Tears in court as four people accused of assisting Elle Edwards' killer found NOT GUILTY

Two men and two women accused of assisting an offender in connection with the murder of Elle Edwards have been found not guilty.

The 26-year-old beautician was shot dead outside a pub shortly before midnight on Christmas Eve 2022. Connor Chapman was convicted of her murder in July last year and later jailed for life with a minimum term of 48 years. reports the Liverpool Echo.

David Chambers, Danielle Dowdall, Roxanne Matthews and Paul Owen have been on on trial at Liverpool Crown Court accused of assisting an offender in connection with the fatal shooting outside the Lighthouse pub in Wallasey.

They were accused of allegedly harbouring the gunman in the aftermath, disposing of his clothing, helping him to torch the stolen Mercedes used in the attack and then aiding his escape to a holiday lodge in Wales as the police closed in.

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They were unanimously found not guilty of the respective charges against them this afternoon following six hours and 20 minutes of deliberations by a jury of eight men and three women. A 12th juror was discharged midway through the case due to "personal issues".

Ms Dowdall and Ms Matthews broke down in tears and thanked the jury after they delivered their verdicts. All the defendants embraced before they were allowed to re-join their loved ones in the public gallery. Mr Chambers told the defence counsel: "Thank you for everything you've done for everyone." Mr Justice Morris thanked the jury for their task which they carried out with "calm and dedication".

Jurors previously heard that Mr Chambers, Chapman's uncle, allegedly dropped the Berghaus fleece and Nike trainers worn by his nephew during