Connor Chapman found guilty of murdering Elle Edwards outside Wirral pub on Christmas Eve

A man has been found guilty of the murder of Elle Edwards, who died after being shot outside a Wirral pub on Christmas Eve.

Connor Chapman, 23, fired 12 shots from a Skorpion pistol into a group of people outside the Lighthouse pub in Wallasey Village, Wirral, Merseyside, shortly before midnight on December 24 last year. Beautician Elle, 26, was shot dead while five others were injured.

Today (Thursday July 6), Chapman was convicted of her murder, and seven other counts, following a three-and-a-half week trial at Liverpool Crown Court. Co-defendant Thomas Waring, 20, was found guilty of the possession of a prohibited firearm and assisting an offender by helping to burn out the stolen Mercedes used in the shooting.

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Ms Edwards’ father, Tim, said the conviction meant the family could start going forward. He said: “It just means he’s off the streets, someone else is not going to suffer at the hands of him. Unfortunately Elle was his last victim but thankfully she will be the last person he does anything to and he can go fade away.”

The trial heard the attack was the culmination of a feud between groups on the Woodchurch and Beechwood estates, on either side of the M53 in Wirral. The prosecution alleged Chapman was attempting to kill Kieran Salkeld and Jake Duffy, both of whom were seriously injured in the shooting.

The pair, from the Beechwood estate, had attacked another man, Sam Searson, in the street the day before, the court heard. Three other men: Harry Loughran, Liam Carr and Nicholas Speed; who were unconnected to the feud, were also injured in the shooting.

The jury heard Chapman lay in wait outside the pub