FOUR people are due to stand trial today (Thursday, October 3) accused of assisting an offender in relation to the murder of Wirral beautician Elle Edwards.

Danielle Dowdall, 34, David Chambers, 42, Roxanne Matthews, 33, and Paul Owen, 54, are all due to appear before Liverpool Crown Court from 2pm this afternoon at the beginning of a trial which is expected to last up to four weeks.

Elle, 26, was struck by gunfire and received fatal head injuries when Connor Chapman, 22, repeatedly opened fire with a Skorpion submachine gun outside The Lighthouse pub in Wallasey Village on Christmas Eve 2022.

Chapman was later found guilty of murdering Elle following a trial in July 2023. He was also found guilty of attempted murder, one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, two counts of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and possession of a gun and ammunition.

According to the charge sheet, Dowdall, of Woodchurch, is alleged to have disposed of clothes worn by Chapman, and Owen, also of Woodchurch, is accused of assisting in disposing of a Mercedes A-Class car used by Chapman in the shooting.

Matthews, of Noctorum, Wirral, who also uses the surname Rooney, will stand trial charged with two counts of assisting an offender by allegedly hiring a Volkswagen T-Cross and booking a lodge in Wales to be used by Chapman.

Chambers, of no fixed address, is charged with assisting Chapman by allegedly arranging for the hire of the Volkswagen T-Cross car.

All four deny the charges.