Two men and two women have been charged in connection with the murder of Elle Edwards.
Merseyside Police confirmed they have charged the four in connection with the murder of the 26-year-old beautician, who was shot and killed on Christmas Eve 2022. Earlier this year Connor Chapman was jailed for 48 years following a trial at Liverpool Crown Court alongside his co-defendant Thomas Waring, 20, who was sentenced to nine years for possession of a prohibited weapon and assisting an offender.
On Thursday, December 21, police charged a 42 year-old man from the Wallasey area, a 33-year-old woman from the Woodchurch area and a 54-year-old man from the Woodchurch area with assisting an offender.
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A 33-year-old woman from the Birkenhead area has also been charged with two counts of assisting an offender. According to Merseyside Police, reporting restrictions are currently in place which means the four people cannot be named at this stage.
They have all been bailed to appear at Wirral magistrates court on January, 15, 2024.
A spokesperson from Merseyside Police said: "We have today, Thursday 21st December, charged four people in connection with the murder of Elle Edwards on Christmas Eve last year. A 42 year-old man from the Wallasey area, has been charged with assisting an offender.
"A 33-year-old woman from the Woodchurch area has been charged with assisting an offender. A 54-year-old man from the Woodchurch area has been charged with assisting an offender
"A 33-year-old woman from the Birkenhead area has been charged with two counts of assisting an offender Reporting restrictions are currently in place which means the four people cannot at this stage be named. "
A jury of seven women and five men came to a unanimous decision on Chapman's guilt after three hours and 48 minutes of deliberation, following a three and a half week trial. Chapman’s friend Thomas Waring, 20, was also convicted of possession of a prohibited weapon, and assisting an offender by helping Chapman torch a stolen black Mercedes car used to flee the scene.
The 20-year-old was sentenced to nine years in prison. Trial judge Mr Justice Goose described Chapman as a "highly dangerous man".
Justice Goose said: “Shortly before midnight on Christmas Eve last year, the Lighthouse pub in Wallasey Village was busy with revellers enjoying the season and looking forward to Christmas day. Six of them found themselves outside the building. They were Elle Edwards, Kieran Salkeld, Jake Duffy, Harry Loughran, Liam Carr, and Nicholas Speed.
“They were not all together, they just happened to be there. What you did to them was as wicked as it was shocking. You murdered Elle Edwards, bringing to an end her young life. You attempted to murder Jake Duffy and Kieran Salkeld, causing them very serious injury.
“You obtained a submachine gun loaded with 12 bullets and prepared to fire all of them. Your intention was to murder Jake Duffy and Kieran Salkeld. You didn’t care who else would be killed. That’s why you fired all the bullets at the group. I’m satisfied you are a highly dangerous man.
“It’s utterly shocking you carefully planned a revenge attack in a gang rivalry. You had no thought for anyone else. The risks of what you did were as high as they were obvious.”
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