Beautician Elle Edwards was fatally shot in a bar on Christmas Eve, and a guy has entered a not-guilty plea.
In connection with the shooting in Wirral, Merseyside, Connor Chapman, 23, is accused of nine offenses altogether.
‘Gorgeous’
Elle, age 26, was shot and killed while out having fun with friends at Wallasey’s Lighthouse Hotel during the holiday season.
She is not thought to have been the attack’s intended target, which left four men hurt.
Appearing via videolink at Liverpool Crown Court this morning, Chapman also denied the attempted murder of Jake Duffy and Kieran Salkeld and three counts of wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm of Harry Loughran, Nicholas Speed and Liam Carr.
On top of this, he pleaded not guilty to possession of a converted Skorpion submachine gun and possession of ammunition with intent to endanger life, as well as handling stolen goods – a Mercedes A class vehicle – between December 22 and 26.
Wearing a grey tracksuit and with shoulder-length hair, the defendant spoke only to enter his pleas and to confirm his name during the hearing, which lasted about 35 minutes.
Also appearing by videolink at the hearing was Thomas Waring, 20, of Private Drive, Barnston, Wirral.
Waring entered not guilty pleas to two charges: possession of a Skorpion submachine gun and assisting an offender by helping dispose of the car allegedly used by Chapman after the shooting.
Both defendants have been remanded into custody and a further pre-trial hearing is to be held on May 15.
Judge Menary has announced the trial date has been changed from June 7 to June 12, and will be before Justice Julian Goose.
It comes after mourners lined the streets of Liverpool to pay tribute to Elle on the day of her funeral.
Elle’s heartbroken grandma Marlene previously paid tribute to her granddaughter, saying she will ‘love and miss you for the rest of my time, until we meet again’.
In a post on Elle’s sister’s Instagram, Marlene, said: ‘I miss you bringing me my cakes and sitting on the kitchen table having a cup of tea with me and all the laughs we would have.
‘I love you more than anything in this world and I keep staring at your picture on the fireplace.
‘You will always be with us my beautiful granddaughter and you will never be forgotten. Love from nan Marlene.’