An expert witness has told a murder trial of "similarities" in clothing worn by Connor Chapman and the gunman who shot Elle Edwards dead.
The beautician was killed aged 26 after being shot in the head outside the Lighthouse pub in Wallasey, Wirral, on Christmas Eve last year. Chapman, 23, is currently standing trial at Liverpool Crown Court accused of her murder.
Today, Friday, jurors heard evidence from image reporting analyst Tessa Macklam. As part of the investigation, she was tasked with comparing clothes and footwear the shooter was seen wearing on CCTV and those worn by Chapman in other clips.
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Her analysis revealed points of comparison between Cashman's trainers, as seen in a video captured at the Shell garage in Gayton on December 23 and police body worn cameras in a McDonald's car park the previous month, and those worn by the man who is said to be the killer – shown in footage from Private Drive in Barnston in the early hours of Christmas Day. Ms Macklam told the jury: "When comparing the footage from the unknown gunman to the petrol station, the footwear is more probable that it has features of similarity in design."
The witness also noted similarities in the trousers worn in these same clips. She added: "Due to the markers and observations seen, the trousers in the petrol station are slightly more probable to be the same in style and design as the unknown gunman footage."
CCTV from Private Drive, where the murderer is alleged to have fled to following the shooting, showed a figure seemingly removing a head covering to reveal their long hair underneath at the same moment a gun appears to drop from their pocket and onto the pavement. Ms Macklam said that it was "more probable" that the unknown subject’s clothing was of a similar style and design to Chapman’s as seen in other footage.
Further comparisons were made in relation to a Berghaus top he was shown wearing on cameras at the Pandora and Ryman stores at the Arndale Centre in Manchester earlier on Christmas Eve. Similarities were further noted in trousers the defendant was seen sporting near to his home on Houghton Road in Woodchurch.
Chapman denies being the gunman or murdering Elle. He has also pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of Kieran Salkeld and Jake Duffy, wounding with intent against Harry Loughran, Liam Carr and Nicholas Speed and possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life.
Alongside him in the dock is 20-year-old Thomas Waring, of Private Drive, who denies possession of a prohibited weapon and assisting an offender. The trial continues, and will resume for a third week on Monday.