Elle Edwards was supposed to be making Christmas dinner for her family just hours after she was shot dead at a pub.
The 26-year-old went to the Lighthouse pub to celebrate Christmas Eve with her sister and friends when tragedy struck as she went outside for a cigarette. While outside Connor Chapman, 23, fired 12 bullets towards a group of people outside and Elle was shot twice in the head and once in the shoulder, dying almost instantly.
Five men were also injured, one critically, as Chapman drove away from the scene in a car he had stolen. A jury of seven women and five men came to a unanimous decision on Chapman's guilt on Thursday, July 6, after three hours and 48 minutes of deliberation, following a three and a half week trial at Liverpool Crown Court.
READ MORE: The day Connor Chapman refused to come into court during his murder trial
Today trial judge Mr Justice Goose described Chapman as a "highly dangerous man" before sentencing him to a minimum of 48 years in prison for Elle's murder. The minimum also included two counts of attempted murder, two counts of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, one count of assault causing actual bodily harm and possessing an prohibited weapon and ammunition with intent to endanger life.
During the trial a number of victim impact statements were read to the court, including Elle's Dad, Tim Edwards, older brother, Connor Edwards and Grandmother, Sue Edwards. In Connor's statement he told of the last time he spoke to his little sister on the phone.
The statement read: "I last spoke to Elle on Christmas Eve at 8:35pm. I had rang her, she didn’t answer but then rang me back. I was curious to know what the plans were going to be for Christmas Day as Elle was going to be cooking Christmas dinner with mum for the first time, usually Dad cooks.
"During our conversation, Elle said that she was in The Lighthouse, she had gone there last year and had had such a good time that she wanted to go back again. I reminded her that she was cooking the Christmas dinner the following day and she replied that she was with Lucy and that she would be home soon.
"I told Elle to have a good night, we said we loved each other. This was the last time we spoke."
Connor said he then work up to a "flurry" of calls and text messages saying a woman has been shot at the Lighthouse, it wasn't long until he found out it was his sister.
The statement continued: "I remember driving to my Dads to tell him what had happened, I was absolutely petrified, how was I going to tell him? Dad had been waiting for Elle on Christmas Eve to go to his to wrap Christmas presents.
"I got to his house and told him that Elle had been shot in the head and that it didn’t look good. We went to the hospital to find out that Elle was no longer with us, our worlds fell apart.
"I returned home to our then three-year-old son just waking up on Christmas morning and opening his presents, having to sit there with a smile on my face for him. I can’t explain how I felt, I felt numb and traumatised."
Connor added it was difficult for him to watch his mum cope following the death of Elle, mentioning she she waits at the front of the house for Elle to come home.
He said: "It breaks my heart. Elle was as close as you could be to our Mum.
"They had the best mother and daughter relationship as you could ever have. Elle would help Mum with everything from shopping to just being there to talk to, keeping a smile on her face.
"Elle had time for literally everyone, she wasn’t shy, she was fun and had a hug for everyone. My beautiful sister Elle Marlene Edwards, I love and miss you. I will cherish the twenty six years we had together."
Don't miss the biggest and breaking stories by signing up to the Echo Daily newsletter here
