Connor Chapman claims he tried to act as a "mediator" between feuding gangs after the murder of Elle Edwards and posted on Facebook saying: "Enough is enough."
The 26-year-old beautician was shot dead outside the Lighthouse pub in Wallasey, Wirral, on Christmas Eve. Chapman is currently standing trial at Liverpool Crown Court accused of being the gunman.
Nigel Power KC, prosecuting, began cross-examining the 23-year-old yesterday afternoon, Wednesday. During his questioning, he read out a lengthy message the alleged killer published on his Facebook page on December 28, four days after the shooting - which is said to have followed a series of "tit for tat" incidents involving rival groups based on the Woodchurch and Beechwood or Ford estates.
READ MORE: Elle Edwards latest: Live updates as Connor Chapman enters witness box
The status said: "I don'tdo dis face book s*** bu some times some one needs to stand up and get d movement moven. Give a f*** wha eny one thinks of me postin this, s***s getn out of hand and no one needs dis in there life or to happen to there family.
"That's one thing we all have in common we all have family and this could of been enyones tragedy. It's not that deep it's not unstoppable.
"Some real petty s*** goin on out ere. Let's see who wants to stand up and b a man n make not just your own life bu every ones around u a little Easyer to live every day cuz enough is enough.
"No one needs dis s*** in there life. No one's a gangsta and no one's bad.
"It's just f***n stupid n pouintless and a waste of life. When ye sat in jail lookn 20 to life da s*** cuts deep believe me innocent or not SHARE n let's see wha happens cuz ino deep down no one wants dis n it can be squashed if the right ppl get involved."
The message had been posted in response to a status from a man called Jamie Duggan, who called for people to "put down these guns and knives". Chapman said of his own post: "I don’t believe I could have defused any situation.
"Jamie is a well-respected person off the Ford estate, not necessarily on the Woodchurch Estate. Alls it takes sometimes is two people to come together, sit down, speak."
Mr Power asked whether Chapman was a "person of influence", to which he replied: "I’ve grew up on the estate and I know a lot of people off there. I wouldn’t necessarily say I’m a person of influence, I’m just somebody off the estate."
The defendant said he wanted to help "by trying to be in the middle and mediate between people". Mr Power asked of this: "Who were you going to mediate between?"
Chapman responded: "Jamie is clearly a person."
Mr Power continued: "Who were you going to mediate for on the Woodchurch estate?"
He said: "There’s certain things the jury haven’t been told and it doesn’t need to be brought up."
Mr Power then asked: "Who were you going to mediate with?"
Chapman replied: “The people who were having a feud with people off the Ford. I’m not prepared to name them."
He later added: “I doubt that Facebook post is going to fool anybody if I’m the person you’re saying I am. There’s been no shootings since I’ve been in jail, so I must be the one doing the shootings - is that the suggestion?"
Chapman - of Houghton Road in Woodchurch - 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 will continue to be cross-examined today, Thursday.
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.
