Elle Edwards murderer Connor Chapman jailed for at least 48 years

The gunman who changeable dormant Elle Edwards extracurricular a pub connected Christmas Eve has been jailed for beingness with a minimum word of 48 years.

Ms Edwards was an guiltless bystander erstwhile Connor Chapman opened occurrence with a sub-machine weapon arsenic helium targeted 2 men successful the culmination of a pack feud.

The beautician, 26, was enjoying a nighttime retired with friends erstwhile she was changeable extracurricular the Lighthouse successful Wirral.

Members of her household shouted "goodbye lad", "scumbag" and "rat" arsenic helium was taken down to the cells.

Passing sentence, Mr Justice Goose told him: "What you did, Connor Chapman, was arsenic wicked arsenic it was shocking.

"You murdered Elle Edwards, bringing an extremity to her young life."

He described Chapman arsenic a "highly unsafe man" who cautiously pre-meditated and planned the shooting.

"You spent the days afterwards removing oregon destroying grounds that would place you arsenic the gunman," helium said.

Co-defendant Thomas Waring, 20, was jailed for 9 years for helping Chapman to pain retired the stolen Mercedes utilized successful the shooting.

In a connection work to the court, Ms Edwards' parent Gaynor - who did not be the proceeding - said she "cannot accept" her girl had gone.

"I inactive deliberation she'll travel home," she said.

"I cannot enactment into words however overmuch I emotion her."

Ms Edwards' older member Connor said helium had past spoken to his sister connected the nighttime she died.

"I wanted to cognize what the plans were for Christmas Day," helium said.

"Elle said she was successful the Lighthouse, she'd been determination past twelvemonth and wanted to spell again.

"I told Elle to person a bully night, we said we loved each other. They were the past words."

He said helium present went to furniture each nighttime "with a changeless deed of grief".

"The days aft were horrific, visiting her successful the mortuary. She didn't merit this. Organising the ceremonial was the worst happening I person ever had to do," helium said.

Her grandma said she was "very peculiar to maine and my champion friend".

"If I were to dice tomorrow, the coroner would constitute connected my decease certificate 'cause of death: she died of a breached heart'," she added.

Speaking extracurricular tribunal pursuing the sentencing, her begetter Tim said helium hoped his daughter's slayer ne'er saw Christmas again.

"If I'm fortunate capable to beryllium astir for a agelong clip yet, I'll bash my champion to marque definite helium ne'er comes retired of jail," helium said.

"Things request to change, and we've made a commencement with that. If you deliberation astir picking up a weapon present you should deliberation doubly astir it."

The proceedings heard the shooting was the effect of a feud betwixt gangs connected the Woodchurch estate, wherever Chapman lived, and the Beechwood, oregon Ford, property connected the other broadside of the M53.

Chapman laic successful hold extracurricular the pub successful in Wallasey Village successful a stolen Mercedes for astir 3 hours earlier firing the weapon, which was susceptible of firing 15 rounds a second.

The prosecution said Chapman was attempting to termination Kieran Salkeld and Jake Duffy, some of whom were earnestly injured successful the shooting.

The pair, from the Beechwood estate, had attacked different man, Sam Searson, successful the thoroughfare the time before, the proceedings was told.

Three different men who were unconnected to the feud, Harry Loughran, Liam Carr and Nicholas Speed, were besides injured successful the shooting.

Nigel Power KC, prosecuting, said Chapman had recorded a rap video portion successful custody past twelvemonth aft an aggravated burglary astatine his mother's home.

In the video, helium made comments including: "If I marque it retired of present I'm owed to go celebrated due to the fact that if you interaction 1 of mine, I'll permission your psyche connected the pavement."

He besides said: "I cognize I've been a scumbag but I'm arrogant of that. "

Chapman was besides convicted of 2 counts of attempted murder, 2 counts of wounding with intent to origin grievous bodily harm and 1 number of battle occasioning existent bodily harm, arsenic good arsenic possession of a gun.

He pleaded blameworthy earlier the proceedings to a complaint of handling stolen goods.

Waring was convicted of possession of a prohibited firearm and assisting an offender and pleaded blameworthy earlier the proceedings to failing to comply with a disclosure notice.