Elle Edwards was shot dead outside a pub just before midnight on Christmas Eve
The murder of a woman who was shot dead outside a pub on Christmas Eve was a “human tragedy in its purest and most appalling sense”, a court has heard.
Nigel Power KC told Liverpool Crown Court the trial of Connor Chapman, who is accused of killing Elle Edwards on 24 December 2022 was one “many people will never forget”.
He said there was a “compelling case” Mr Chapman was the gunman at the Lighthouse in Wallasey Village, Wirral.
The 23-year-old has denied murder.
The court has previously been told the shooting, which happened just before midnight, had also injured five men.
Mr Chapman, from the Woodchurch estate in Wirral, is alleged to have been targeting Jake Duffy and Kieran Salkeld, from the Ford or Beechwood estate, after a series of violent incidents involving people from the two areas.
‘Chocolate teapot’
Addressing the jury in his closing speech, Mr Power said gun crime often involved “criminals shooting at each other”.
He said there was “no doubt” that was the case in this instance, but “a young, beautiful, unconnected, innocent life” had also been “brutally ended” as a “direct result” of an ongoing feud between the estates.
“This is a trial that not just you 12, but many, many people will never forget,” he said.
“It involves human tragedy in its purest and most appalling sense.”
Image source, PA Media
Connor Chapman is accused of opening fire outside the Lighthouse pub in Wallasey Village, Wirral
The court had previously heard Mr Chapman was served with an injunction in the months before the shooting, aimed at preventing gang-related violence.
Mr Power said the move was “about as much use as a chocolate teapot” as the injunction was “treated with utter contempt by him”.
He told the court the CCTV evidence alone, which showed the long-haired gunman, presented a “compelling case” against Mr Chapman.
“Whoever that person is, he may not have Bette Davis eyes, but he’s got Connor Chapman’s hair,” he said.
‘Waved the white flag’
Earlier, the jury was told that Mr Chapman’s co-defendant, Thomas Waring, would not give evidence in the case.
Mr Waring has been accused of assisting an offender and possessing a prohibited weapon.
Mr Power said the refusal to face the court was “the ultimate in cowardice”.
“He wouldn’t put his money where his mouth is,” he said.
He added that Mr Waring had “effectively waved the white flag of surrender to evidence against him in terms of possessing that gun”.
Image source, Merseyside Police
The court has been shown images of the car the prosecution said was used in the attack
Mark Rhind KC, defending Mr Chapman, told the jury the case against his client was “circumstantial”.
“There might be cases where evidence seems to be compelling from one perspective, but when you look at it carefully and when you examine it, it falls apart,” he said.
Mr Chapman has denied murdering Ms Edwards, two counts of attempted murder, two of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and one of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
He has also denied having a Skorpion sub-machine gun with intent to endanger life and ammunition with intent to endanger life.
Mr Waring has denied possessing a prohibited weapon and assisting an offender by helping Mr Chapman dispose of the car.
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