Funeral of Christmas Eve pub shooting victim Elle Edwards to be held

Ms Edwards, 26, was celebrating Christmas with pals when a gunman opened hearth on the Lighthouse pub in Wallasey Village, Wirral, shortly earlier than midnight.

She just isn’t believed to have been the meant goal of the assault, which additionally damage 4 males.

Ms Edwards’ funeral is being held at St Nicholas’s Church in Wallasey at 12.30pm on Wednesday.

Attendees arrived simply earlier than noon, wearing black. Some have been clutching flowers.

Ms Edwards’ coffin was transported on a horse drawn carriage. Some mourners lined the streets to look at the procession.

Reverend Jeff Staples, who’s main the service, mentioned Ms Edwards is “not outlined by what occurred”.

“She laughed and joked and loved all of the issues of life,” he instructed BBC Radio Merseyside.

Mr Staples mentioned the funeral service is a celebration of her “full” life.

The pub the place the beautician was shot has closed its doorways on Wednesday as a mark of respect.

“Elle and her household have remained very a lot in our ideas over these previous few weeks and much more so proper now. Might she relaxation in peace,” The Lighthouse Inn wrote on Fb.

In an interview with Sky Information final week, her father Tim Edwards mentioned: “She was lovely wanting and he or she was an ideal hugger. She was only a improbable human being with a coronary heart of gold.”

“She’s the kind of individual that may stroll into the room and everybody would gravitate in the direction of her as a result of she was all the time smiling,” he mentioned.

He added that attending his daughter’s funeral is “going to be horrible”.

“Nevertheless it’s a part of the method and it’s one thing that must be finished,” he added.

“After which we transfer on to the following factor and hold going. However she’s going to all the time be right here. She’ll by no means depart me. She’ll reside on perpetually.”

Mr Edwards hopes a basis in his daughter’s title will fight gun violence within the area.

Connor Chapman, 22, has been charged with murdering Ms Edwards and is because of go on trial on June 7.

He has additionally been charged with two counts of tried homicide, three counts of illegal and malicious wounding with intent to do grievous bodily hurt, possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to hazard life, and dealing with stolen items.

Merseyside Police Deputy Chief Constable Ian Critchley described the deadly capturingas “probably the most appalling and callous homicide”.

“To be murdered in probably the most horrific and brutal manner by probably the most cowardly of actions is kind of incomprehensible for us all.”