The killer who gunned down Elle Edwards on Christmas Eve cost the taxpayer a total of £282,000 in legal aid.
Beautician Elle, 26, was shot dead on Christmas Eve 2022 outside a pub in the Wirral as she enjoyed festive drinks with her friends.
She was having a cigarette at the time when she was caught in the crossfire of a gang feud.
Connor Chapman, then 23, fired 12 shots from a Skorpion pistol into a group of people outside the Lighthouse pub in Wallasey. Five others were also injured in the attack. He was jailed for 48 years.
Now, it has been revealed that first started costing tax-payers in 2013 when he was charged with burglary and theft.
Elle Edwards, 26, (pictured) was killed when Connor Chapman fired 12 shots from a Skorpion pistol into a group of people outside the Lighthouse pub in Wallasey
Connor Chapman was found guilty at Liverpool Crown Court of the murder of Elle Edwards
Elle’s family gathered together and celebrated Christmas for the sake of her nephew
Figures obtained by The Sun proved there was £267,000 for legal representation during his murder trial at Liverpool crown court earlier this year.
Elle’s dad Tim said the family were determined to celebrate Christmas for the sake of Elle’s nephew and his grandson.
Tim said: ‘There has been a lot of mixed emotions as the day has got closer.
‘There’s apprehension and sadness too because Elle won’t be here, but the family will all be together on Christmas Day.
‘I have my grandson who is four so I’m going to make a fuss of him.
‘Why should he miss out over Christmas? He doesn’t know what’s going on or what’s happened.
‘I want to try and keep it as normal as possible.
Ms Edwards’ father, Tim, celebrates outside court after Chapman was found guilty
Mr Edwards with his mother and other family outside the court after Chapman was convicted
Connor Chapman (pictured) opened fire with a Skorpion sub-machine gun outside the Lighthouse
The moment balaclava-clad Connor Chapman blasted a crowd outside The Lighthouse pub
‘Obviously there will be a time when we sit and celebrate Elle and reflect on what’s happened and it’s going to be sad, but we have to keep going forward.’
Chapman, 23, was convicted of Elle’s murder and jailed for life with a minimum term of 48 years in July.
Two women and two men are accused of assisting an offender and are due before court on January 15.
Tim also condemned the Lighthouse pub for opening on the anniversary of his beloved daughter’s death and claimed the pub’s owners have failed to engage with him or other members of Elle’s family.
He added: ‘I think it’s pure greed. I’ve spoken to Greene King and spoken to the landlady who wasn’t very helpful and in my opinion that pub should not be open. If I had my way that pub would be gone.
‘Greene King reached out in the beginning and offered to pay for therapy – that’s the only thing they ever did.
Tim also condemned the Lighthouse pub (pictured) for opening on the anniversary of his beloved daughter’s death
Miss Edwards is seen laughing with friends just moments before Chapman carried out his sickening attack
‘They never contacted me personally and the pub has never contacted me.
‘I’m the father of Elle and her spokesperson and they’ve never approached me.
‘It was awful what happened and to put money ahead of respect I find abhorrent.
‘They want to make as much money as they can on their busiest night of the year and they’re not bothered about anything else in my eyes and I have made those feelings clear.’
The Lighthouse pub was open on Christmas Eve but closed early at around 11pm.
Elle’s death was one of a number of high-profile shootings in Merseyside in 2022 as innocent people were killed by warring gangs.
Tim Edwards speaks to the media outside Liverpool Crown Court
Miss Edwards lost her life and five others were also injured on December 24 last year
Tim Edwards holds his head in his hands following the guilty verdict of Chapman at Liverpool Crown Court
Ashley Dale, 28, was shot in her home in Old Swan, Liverpool, on August 20.
Olivia Pratt-Korbell, nine, was shot at home by Thomas Cashman as he chased fellow drug dealer Joseph Nee in the Dovecot area of the city.
Merseyside Police said Skorpion machine pistols, like the one used in Elle’s murder, have been involved in nine crimes since her death.
Tim continued: ‘Christmases were always hectic, the same as everyone else, with last-minute buys and me running over to town on Christmas Eve to get all the last-minute presents.
‘But it was full of fun and laughter and it’s the one time of the year when you should all be together with your family and unfortunately there’s quite a few of us this year for whom that’s not going to happen.
‘I take solace in that I’m not alone and there are other people and families in exactly the same situation as us.
‘It makes you realise that you’re part of this club that we didn’t ask to be in.’
In the run-up to Christmas, Tim has been delivering Christmas hampers to families in need.
Earlier this year, Tim launched a GoFundMe page called Elle’s Army to raise money to establish a foundation in her name.
He joined actor and comedian John May on his walk from Lands End to John O’Groats to raise awareness of knife and gun crime in Merseyside.
Next year, he plans to complete a 155-mile ultramarathon across the Sahara Desert in Morocco.
In a statement, Greene King said: ‘Elle’s death continues to resonate with all of us nearly a year on and our deepest condolences remain with her family and friends for their unimaginable loss.
‘After discussions between our pub team and the local community, we felt the right decision was for The Lighthouse to remain a place for everyone to be together as so many people were deeply affected by what happened.’