Elle Edwards' killer to serve minimum 48 years for murder

Elle Edwards' murderer has been jailed - so, too, has his accomplice, Thomas Waring - almost seven months on from the fatal Christmas Eve shooting.

Today's hearing marked the culmination of a four-week trial. We heard from Mr Justice Goose and Elle's family, who gave emotional statements both inside and outside the courtroom.

Here is a rundown of the key moments from the day:

• Chapman will serve a minimum term of 48 years in prison for murdering the 26-year-old beautician
• Waring was handed a sentence of nine years for possessing a prohibited firearm and assisting an offender
• Mr Justice Goose told the court Elle's murder's had caused a "profound and permanent grief"
• Elle's mother said her health had deteriorated following the death of her daughter, in a statement read out before the sentencing.
• Her elder brother said he went to bed every night with a"constant hit of grief"
• Speaking outside court, Det Supt Paul Grounds, of Merseyside Police, told reporters Chapman was now "behind bars where he rightly belongs"
• Elle's father also spoke outside court, saying he hopes his daughter’s killer "never sees Christmas again."

Tim Edwards – Elle’s dad – earlier spoke outside Liverpool Crown Court following the sentencing of her killer Connor Chapman.

He told reporters that the family will never forget what they've gone through.

CCTV footage shown at the trial captured Connor Chapman firing at the pub from a car park, next to the stolen Mercedes he used to travel to the Lighthouse pub on Christmas Eve last year.

His DNA was also linked to bullet cases found at the scene.

Footage also showed him driving away from the pub in the moments after the shooting and later arriving at Private Drive in Barnston, the home of co-defendant Thomas Waring.

He was then seen in footage appearing to drop the gun as he walked towards Waring's home.

Chapman had admitted a charge of handling stolen goods before the trial started.

His defence told the jury Chapman had travelled with a man, who he refused to name, on 31 December, when the stolen car was burnt out in Frodsham, Cheshire.

Chapman denied that Waring had been with him at the time, although mobile phone evidence showed Waring's phone travelled with the car.

After the trial, Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell said the force had worked "around the clock" with many officers "forsaking their own Christmases" to support the victims, reassure people nearby and "bring Chapman to justice".

She also thanked the "many brave witnesses" who came forward with evidence "to ensure this toxic individual was brought to justice".

The judge also told Elle Edwards' killer that he was prepared to kill anyone in his determination for gang revenge.

This was the moment when Mr Justice Goose sentenced Elle Edwards' killer Connor Chapman to 48 years in prison.

This is the minimum amount of time he must serve before he can be considered for release.

We are hearing from Elle's father now.

He begins by thanking police for their "remarkable" and "relentless" pursuit of Connor Chapman.

He said he hopes his daughter’s killer "never sees Christmas again."

He continues: "If I'm lucky enough to be around for a long time yet, I'll do my best to make sure he never comes out of jail.

Turning to the matter of gun violence, Tim Edwards says: "Things need to change - and we've made a start with that.

"If you think about picking up a gun now you should think twice about it,” he adds.

Tim says the four week trial was something he and his family would "never forget."

"But it was all done for Elle," he concludes, to applause.

Det Supt Grounds continues by saying he hopes Chapman's sentence proves a deterrent to anyone considering picking up a gun.

He pays tribute to the Edwards family who throughout the trial "remained dignified and composed despite being forced to relive the horrific events of Christmas Eve".

"I hope they can now start to properly grieve their loss," he adds.

Grounds also thanks Merseyside Police officers for their tireless work in bringing Chapman and Waring to justice.

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Detective Superintendent Paul Grounds is now speaking outside court, describing Elle Edwards as "a young woman with her whole life ahead of her".

Chapman's "reckless actions" resulted in her life being "tragically cut short"

He is now "behind bars where he rightly belongs", the statement continues.

"No sentence however long can change what Chapman did but I hope that knowing he's been brought to justice and is off our streets brings some small amount of comfort," he says.

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Statements are now delivering a statement from outside Liverpool Crown Court following the sentencing of Connor Chapman.

Stick with us as we bring you the key lines.

Here's the moment when Mr Justice Goose labelled Connor Chapman a "highly dangerous man" who "didn't care" who he hit when he opened fire with a sub-machine gun outside a Wirral pub.

Mr Justice Goose has sentenced Connor Chapman for the murder of Elle Edwards on Christmas Eve last year. He also sentenced Thomas Waring for his own offences.

Before the sentences were handed down, statements from Elle Edwards' family were read out to Liverpool Crown Court.

Here's a recap:

• Chapman will serve a minimum term of 48 years before he can be considered for release
• The judge called his crime "as wicked as it was shocking"
• Waring was handed a sentence of nine years for possession of a prohibited weapon and assisting an offender
• Tim Edwards, Elle's father, said: “We have been given a life sentence having committed no crime"
• His statement also included remarks from Elle's mother, Gaynor, who said her health had deteriorated following the death of her daughter
• Elle’s big brother, Connor, said: “I go to bed with a constant hit of grief. Our lives have been destroyed"

We still expect to hear Det Supt Paul Grounds and again from Elle's father Tim. Stay with us for updates.

There may be a bit of a wait now - so we have an opportunity to bring you photos of Elle Edwards' father, Tim, when he arrived at court earlier this afternoon.

He told one of our reporters on his way into Liverpool Crown Court that he slept soundly last night after Connor Chapman was found guilty of murdering his daughter last December.

Chapman was later told he would have to serve a minimum term of 48 years in prison.

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That's all from Mr Justice Goose at Liverpool Crown Court.

We'll bring you any statements from outside the court as we receive them.

So stay tuned to our live stream - hit the Play button at the top of this page.

Like Connor Chapman, Thomas Waring is told to stand as the judge pronounces his sentence.

Co-defendant Thomas Waring is now being sentenced for his own offences.

The judge continues saying the murder was "very substantially aggravated" by choice of weapon, the location of the event - with many present on Christmas Eve - as well as Chapman's background of gang violence, the removal of evidence and his being the subject of criminal gang injunctions.

He said that there was "no significant mitigation."

He said that while Chapman was being sentenced for murder, he was also being sentenced for attempted murder and several other offences.

Mr Justice Goose says he has to decide whether Chapman's sentence should be whole-life or minimum term.

He says Chapman's sentence would fall "on the cusp" between the two.

He says he can't, however, conclude that a whole-life term could be imposed.

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The judge continues by saying that Chapman "decided on revenge" after his associate was injured in an attack before Christmas Eve.

He says Chapman carefully pre-meditated and planned murder, used a stolen Mercedes with false plates often used for drug dealing, and disguised himself with dark clothing.

Others gathered outside the pub "may easily have been killed also", the judge says.

He mentions Waring, saying that he knew Elle had been murdered and that police were looking for Chapman.

The judge goes on to mention the impact on the Edwards family after their "exceptionally moving statements" to the court today.

There is a "profound grief" for the family, he adds.