There is "one less monster on our streets" after killer Connor Chapman was thrown into a prison cell.
“Wholly innocent” Elle, 26, had been enjoying a night out with her sister and friends when she was caught in a hail of bullets outside the Lighthouse pub, Wallasey Village. Elle was struck in the head and died almost instantly, while five men were also injured, one critically.
A jury of seven women and five men came to a unanimous decision on Chapman's guilt yesterday 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
Chapman’s friend Thomas Waring, 20, was also convicted of possession of a prohibited weapon, and assisting an offender by helping Chapman torch a stolen black Mercedes car used to flee the scene. Cashman received a minimum jail term of 48 years while Waring will serve nine years being being able to apply for parole.
Following the sentencing on Friday, July 7, ECHO readers left their supportive comments for Elle's family and expressed their relief at the 48 year sentence.
Shelly D'ambrogio said: "Finally a sentence that reflects the crime, nothing will bring that poor girl back but I hope this brings them comfort that a monster like him is off the streets for a very long time."
Gill Gilbert said: "Brilliant news, justice has been done. Elle's family have conducted themselves with such dignity. RIP Elle a senseless loss of a beautiful girls life. Xx"
Sharron Black said: "Fantastic news A massive well done to the investigating officers for their painstaking and diligent collection and presentation of evidence allowing the jury to come to this sentence."
Sharon Finegan said: "One less monster on our streets, my thoughts are with Elle's parents dealing with life long broken hearts sending healing hugs xxxx"
Judith Dobbing said: "Great result, senseless loss of a beautiful young woman who will be mourned forever by her family and friends."
Sarah Louise said: "Unfortunately though it’s Elle's family who’s been given the life sentence. Hope you can start to rebuild your lives and grieve for your beautiful daughter."
Sarah Sarah Louise said: "Brilliant please never let him out, disgusting what happened to this little girl I know she was a young lady a women but a little girl to her family so sad, rest in peace xxx"
Ann Martine Conlon said: "I know this doesn't bring Elle back but I do hope this sentence brings some justice & comfort to her family and friends. RIP Elle"
Mr Justice Goose described Chapman as a "highly dangerous man".
He said: “Shortly before midnight on Christmas Eve last year, the Lighthouse pub in Wallasey Village was busy with revellers enjoying the season and looking forward to Christmas day. Six of them found themselves outside the building. They were Elle Edwards, Kieran Salkeld, Jake Duffy, Harry Loughran, Liam Carr, and Nicholas Speed.
“They were not all together, they just happened to be there. What you did to them was as wicked as it was shocking. You murdered Elle Edwards, bringing to an end her young life. You attempted to murder Jake Duffy and Kieran Salkeld, causing them very serious injury.
“You obtained a submachine gun loaded with 12 bullets and prepared to fire all of them. Your intention was to murder Jake Duffy and Kieran Salkeld. You didn’t care who else would be killed. That’s why you fired all the bullets at the group. I’m satisfied you are a highly dangerous man.
“It’s utterly shocking you carefully planned a revenge attack in a gang rivalry. You had no thought for anyone else. The risks of what you did were as high as they were obvious.”
During the trial Nigel Power, KC, prosecuting, described 23-year-old career criminal Chapman as “at the heart” of the Woodchurch estate organised crime group. That group, he said, was engaged in a violent, tit-for-tat feud with a rival group of criminals based around the Beechwood/Ford estate, on the opposite side of the M53 motorway.
In the carpark of the Lighthouse, Chapman, with his trademark long brown hair and face covered by a hood or balaclava, was loitering. Harrowing CCTV footage, played again and again in the trial as Elle’s family looked on, showed him stepping out from the side of the pub and unleashing 12 shots, simultaneously backing towards the getaway car.
Elle slumped forwards, instantly unconscious, landing on Salkeld who had fallen straight onto his back. Chapman claimed he was at home all night on the evening of the shooting, telling the jury that although he accepted his friend, Byrne, had been shot “he wasn’t angry about it” and had no plan for revenge.
However Mr Power said CCTV evidence showed someone leaving Chapman’s home in Houghton Road, Woodchurch, at 8.31pm and getting into the Mercedes 12 minutes later. A combination of CCTV and automatic number plate recognition cameras tracked the Mercedes to Wallasey village, where it stayed until the shooting.
Afterwards, the jury heard the car was tracked to Private Drive, Barnston, the home address of his long-term friend Waring. CCTV from Private Drive showed a figure with long hair walking along and dropping the gun, which skidded along the floor.
A taxi, booked by Waring under a fake name and with a vague pick up point, took Chapman home to Woodchurch at around 5am on Christmas morning. The pair then took steps to cover up their vile crime by driving in convoy to a remote spot off Grassy Lane, Frodsham, on New Year’s Eve, where the stolen Mercedes was torched.
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