Connor Chapman says that he "betrayed" an associate who lent him his car after the murder of Elle Edwards.
The 23-year-old is currently standing trial at Liverpool Crown Court accused of murdering the beautician, who was shot dead aged 26 outside the Lighthouse pub in Wallasey, Wirral, on Christmas Eve last year. He continued to give evidence to the jury from the witness box for a third day yesterday, Monday.
During cross-examination by Nigel Power KC, prosecuting, Chapman was asked about a Mercedes GLC car which he borrowed from a man who cannot be named for legal reasons seven days later on New Year's Eve. This vehicle was subsequently driven in convoy with a stolen Mercedes A Class, which the gunman used on the night of the shooting, to a rural location in Frodsham where the latter was torched.
READ MORE: Elle Edwards latest: Live updates as Connor Chapman gives evidence
Jurors were told that Chapman had met with the owner of the GLC at the Horse and Jockey pub in Upton at 6pm on December 31 2022 in order to supply him with cocaine. Mr Power asked: "Did you have drugs with you?"
The defendant replied: "Yeah. Just not what he wanted.
“Whatever it was he asked for, he wanted more. They wasn’t for him."
Chapman confirmed that he had already "arranged" to burn out the stolen car by this point. He said the other man lent him his Mercedes believing that he would use it to pick up further drugs before returning.
Mr Power referred to a text which this male had sent to the alleged killer shortly after 9.30pm, reading "be careful, bacon everywhere". He then asked: "What does bacon mean?"
Chapman replied: "I’m assuming he means police."
Mr Power continued: "Why would he be worried about bacon being everywhere?"
Chapman said: "As far as he was concerned, he would have thought I had drugs on me in the car."
He stated that he had known the man for "maybe six months", adding: "I wouldn’t say he’s a good friend, but I’ve lent his car on numerous occasions. Just to drive round, to see people."
Mr Power went on to ask: “Either he knew what you were up to or you were absolutely betraying him by putting false plates on his car to go and burn out a car that had been used in the murder."
Chapman responded: "I betrayed him. He did not know what I was going to use his car for, he said you can use my car if it’s going to hurry things up."
Chapman - of Houghton Road in Woochurch - denies Elle's murder, attempting to murder Kieran Salkeld and Jake Duffy, wounding with intent against Liam Carr and Harry Loughran, assault occasioning actual bodily harm against Nicholas Speed and possession of an imitation firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life. Co-defendant Thomas Waring - aged 20 and of Private Drive in Barnston - denies possession of a prohibited weapon and assisting an offender, and the trial continues.
