Connor Chapman pleads not guilty to Elle Edwards murder charges

Connor Chapman has pleaded not guilty at Liverpool Crown Court to the murder of Wirral beautician Elle Edwards, who was shot dead at a busy Merseyside pub on Christmas Eve.

The 23-year-old was charged with Ms Edwards’ murder in January and appeared in court via video link from HM Prison Manchester on Thursday morning for a plea and trial preparation hearing.

Ms Edwards, 26, was shot in the head just before midnight on December 24 when a gunman opened fire outside the entrance to The Lighthouse pub. She was rushed to Arrowe Park Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Police do not believe Ms Edwards was the intended target of the attack. Four men also suffered gunshot wounds during the incident and were treated in hospital for their injuries.

Chapman faces a total of nine offences in connection with the shooting at The Lighthouse pub and pleaded not guilty to them all as he appeared before Judge Andrew Menary wearing a grey jumper, with wavy brown hair and a moustache.

As well as murder, he is charged with the attempted murder of of Jake Duffy and Kieran Salkeld and three counts of unlawful and malicious wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm of Harry Loughran, Nicholas Speed and Liam Carr.

He is also charged with possessing a converted Scorpion sub-machine gun and ammunition with intent to endanger life on Christmas Eve and handling stolen goods, a Mercedes A class vehicle, between December 22 and 26.

Another man, Thomas Waring, 20, of Private Drive, Barnston, Wirral, also appeared in court via video link from Altcourse prison. He denied possession of a prohibited weapon, a Scorpion sub machine gun and assisting an offender.

That charge involved assisting Chapman by disposing of the stolen Mercedes on December 31 with intent to impede the apprehension of Connor Chapman.

A date for their trial, expected to last three to four weeks, has been fixed to begin on June 12 .Judge Andrew Menary, KC, the Recorder of Liverpool, further remanded Chapman, of no fixed address and Waring in custody.