'You cowards deserve to spend every Xmas in a cell': Top cop vows to be 'relentless' chasing Elle Edwards' killers
28 December 2022, 10:06 | Updated: 28 December 2022, 16:44
Merseyside’s top cop wants to see everyone involved in the shooting of 26-year-old Elle Edwards forced to spend every Christmas behind bars.
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Serena Kennedy, the chief constable of Merseyside Police, said her officers were pulling out all the stops to find those responsible for the beautician’s “cold-blooded murder”.
She was killed at the Lighthouse Inn in Wallasey Village on Christmas Eve while enjoying time wit her sister and friends.
It is believed she may have been accidentally killed in the midst of a drug feud between rival gangs, with a gunman firing 12 shots then escaping in a Mercedes.
Four men were hit and one, who is thought to have been his target, is in a critical condition.
Read more: 'Disgraceful': Cops blasted after dropping more than 1 million unsolved burglaries and thefts
“On Christmas Day morning I went out to Wallasey Village to speak to officers and members of the public and I witnessed first-hand the devastating impact this has had on people in Wallasey Village,” Ch Con Kennedy said.
“The use of firearms, violence and intimidation has no place in our communities, and sadly we often see firearms being used to resolve petty and pathetic issues.
"These people are cowards, who think the only way to resolve an argument is through violence, they don’t have the strength or resolve to work things out and stop things from reaching such an ugly and devastating conclusion.
"Anyone involved in arranging this shooting, pulling the trigger and supplying the gun deserves to see every Christmas from behind bars.”
Police are questioning two people over the murder, while four men were arrested on suspicion of possessing a bladed article, a public order offence and drug offences.
Officers also carried out ten stop searches during patrols in Wallasey and nearby areas.
“We are absolutely committed to finding those responsible for the callous and cold-blooded murder of 26-year-old Elle on Christmas Eve and our hearts go out to Elle’s family and friends,” Ch Con Kennedy said.
“Elle was doing what any member of the community should be able to do on Christmas Eve – simply enjoying herself with friends and her sister and celebrating the festivities.
"As a mum of two girls, who are a similar age to Elle, I can’t begin to comprehend what they are going through right now, but I do know that they will carry the heavy loss of Elle for the rest of their lives and there will always be a major part of their lives missing.
“Detectives are continuing their investigations and they will be relentless in their work to establish what led up to the incident on Christmas Eve and who was responsible for this sickening and heart-breaking incident, which has ruined so many lives and culminated in the loss of a beautiful young woman.”
Deputy Chief Constable speaks at site of Elle Edwards shooting in Wallasey
Deputy Chief Constable Ian Critchley described the fatal shooting of Ms Edwards as "the most appalling and callous murder".
Speaking outside the Lighthouse Inn in Wallasey Village, Wirral, Mr Critchley said: "To be murdered in the most horrific and brutal way by the most cowardly of actions is quite incomprehensible for us all and our thoughts and deepest sympathy are with Elle's family, who will now suffer this loss for the rest of their lives.
"We're working closely with them at this most difficult and distressing time for them and I cannot comprehend what they are going through at this moment in time.
"Our staff at Merseyside Police are working relentlessly to find out who is responsible for this appalling act.
"We will not rest until we bring the offenders to justice, and by that I mean the person who pulled the trigger of the gun in the most indiscriminate way in this public house on Christmas Eve, anybody who was responsible for arranging, facilitating or harbouring this individual and anybody who continues to withhold information on who has done this or indeed where the weapon is that has led to this tragic fatality."
He added: "We have two people in custody already, they are on warrants of further detention, but I am still appealing for information in relation to anybody who knows who the person was responsible for pulling that trigger in the most indiscriminate, most appalling way, anybody who knows where the weapon is, anybody who has harboured or has any information at all, we still want to hear from them."
He said investigators were working "round the clock" to work out what happened before, during and after the attack.
He said: "We have made great strides forward but I am appealing for further information."
It follows a spate of killings in Merseyside where innocent bystanders were killed as part of suspected gangland shootings.
Olivia Pratt-Korbel, nine, was killed in August when a masked man opened fire at her house as he chased an unrelated man.
Ashley Dale, a 28-year-old council worker, was killed in a shooting the day earlier.
