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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Aaliyah Rugg

Floral tributes left alongside mural for much-loved Elle Edwards

Floral tributes have been left alongside a completed tribute to Elle Edwards.

The mural, in New Brighton, has been painted in memory of the much-loved beautician who was murdered on Christmas Eve outside the Lighthouse pub in Wallasey. Elle was shot twice by Connor Chapman who fired indiscriminately towards the pub with a sub-machine gun.

Five men were also injured as Chapman drove away from the scene in a car he had stolen. Last week, a jury came to a unanimous decision and found him guilty at Liverpool Crown Court after three hours and 48 minutes of deliberation.

READ MORE: Elle Edwards - 'The girl who would always put a smile on your face'

As the trial came to an end, Elle's grieving dad Tim made a promise to his daughter. He said: "Thankfully now he's got 48 years and hopefully he never sees Christmas again. If I'm lucky enough to still be around for a long time yet, I will do my best to make sure he never comes out of jail."

Floral tributes have been left (Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)

The mural has been completed on Virginia Street in New Brighton, featuring a picture of Elle with the words: "You do you, boo" alongside a rose and butterfly. Floral tributes have also been left nearby as passers-by stopped to admire the artwork in her memory.

During the trial a number of victim impact statements were read to the court, including from 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."

Upon sentencing, the judge told Chapman the murder was "utterly shocking" as he added: "You carefully planned a revenge attack in gang rivalry. You had no thought at all for anyone else, least of all to innocent people. The risk of all six being murdered by you was as substantial as it was obvious, but you didn’t care."

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