Connor Chapman told a jury it was his "personal opinion" that more than one person loitered outside the Lighthouse Pub before Elle Edwards was shot dead.
The 23-year-old is giving evidence at Liverpool Crown Court where he is standing trial accused of firing 12 shots at a group of people outside the pub, in Wallasey Village, shortly before midnight on Christmas Eve last year.
Elle, 26, was struck twice in the head by bullets from a Skorpion sub-machine gun, while the gunman's "intended targets" - Kieron Salkeld and Jake Duffy - were seriously wounded. Three other men described as "innocent bystanders" were also injured.
READ MORE: Elle Edwards latest: Live updates as Connor Chapman enters witness box
Nigel Power, KC, prosecuting, has told the jury that a stolen black Mercedes A-Class car used by Chapman in the weeks before the murder was driven from his home in Houghton Road, Woodchurch, to Wallasey where CCTV showed it was used by the gunman.
However Chapman told a jury he was at home all evening on Christmas Eve, spending time wrapping presents, listening to music and tidying up.
Under questioning from his barrister, Mark Rhind, KC, Chapman claimed a man he had known for around six months made arrangements to use the Mercedes that evening, which he described as a "pool car" shared between several people. He said the vehicle was "usually" used for selling drugs.
The jury has been shown a disputed piece of CCTV footage from a camera opposite Chapman's home, which shows what the prosecution claim is Chapman leaving to drive to the murder scene, and what Chapman claims is the man coming to pick up the keys to the Mercedes.
Mr Rhind said: "The prosecution case is that man got into the car and drove straight to Wallasey. It was that man who was involved in the murder of Elle Edwards. Do you know if that is right or wrong?”
Chapman replied: “I don’t know whether it’s right or wrong. My personal opinion is, it was never one person. Just based on what I see, yeah.."
Referring to the CCTV footage outside his home, he said: "You see the person who comes to my house. You can see that, I wouldn’t suggest he’s wearing the same type of clothes as the person who does the shooting. It’s definitely not the same type of clothes....
"It’s just an opinion really, he definitely hasn’t got the same clothes on as the person who done the shooting. I find it pretty hard to believe it was one person who sat outside the pub for three and a bit hours on his own. To me it doesn’t make sense but that is my opinion."
Chapman denies Elle's murder, attempting to murder Kieran Salkeld and Jake Duffy, wounding with intent against Liam Carry and Harry Loughran, assault occasioning actual bodily harm against Nicholas Speed and possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life. He is due to continue giving evidence to the jury on Wednesday morning.
Alongside him in the dock is 20-year-old Thomas Waring, of Private Drive in Barnston, who has pleaded not guilty to possession of a prohibited weapon and handling stolen goods. The trial continues.
The trial continues.
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