The heartbroken household of Elle Edwards got here collectively for Christmas Day to mark the primary anniversary of her homicide.
The beautician, 26, was shot lifeless exterior a pub within the Wirral, Merseyside, final 12 months after getting caught within the crossfire of a violent gangland feud.
She had been out for festive drinks with pals on Christmas Eve when gunman Connor Chapman opened hearth with a sub-machine gun exterior the Lighthouse Pub.
Her dad Tim defined that regardless of it being a extremely emotional time, the household was decided to have fun Christmas for the sake of Elle’s nephew, his grandson.
He mentioned: ‘There have been a variety of blended feelings because the day has bought nearer,.
‘There’s apprehension and disappointment too as a result of Elle received’t be right here, however the household will all be collectively on Christmas Day.
‘I’ve my grandson who’s 4 so I’m going to make a fuss of him – why ought to he miss out over Christmas? He doesn’t know what’s occurring or what’s occurred.
‘I wish to attempt to hold it as regular as potential.
‘Clearly there can be a time after we sit and have fun Elle and replicate on what’s occurred and it’s going to be unhappy, however we now have to maintain going ahead.’
Chapman, 23, was convicted of Elle’s homicide and jailed for all times with a minimal time period of 48 years in July.
Two girls and two males accused of helping an offender are due earlier than court docket on January 15 subsequent 12 months.
Elle’s demise was certainly one of a variety of excessive profile shootings in Merseyside final 12 months during which victims had been inadvertently caught up in gang warfare.
Ashley Dale, 28, was shot in her house in Previous Swan, Liverpool, on August 20.
And Olivia Pratt-Korbell, 9, was shot at house by Thomas Cashman as he chased fellow drug seller Joseph Nee within the Dovecot space of the town.
Tim added: ‘Christmases had been at all times hectic, the identical as everybody else, with final minute buys and me operating over to city on Christmas Eve to get all of the final minute presents.
‘But it surely was filled with enjoyable and laughter and it’s the one time of the 12 months when it is best to all be along with your loved ones and sadly there’s fairly just a few of us this 12 months for whom that’s not going to occur.’
Just lately, the Lighthouse pub introduced it will open on Christmas Eve however shut early round 11pm.
In a press release, homeowners Greene King mentioned: ‘Elle’s demise continues to resonate with all of us almost a 12 months on and our deepest condolences stay along with her household and pals for his or her unimaginable loss.
‘After discussions between our pub staff and the area people, we felt the suitable choice was for The Lighthouse to stay a spot for everybody to be collectively as so many individuals had been deeply affected by what occurred.’
However Tim slammed the choice and claimed the pub’s homeowners have failed to have interaction with him or different members of Elle’s household.
He mentioned: ‘I believe it’s pure greed.
‘If I had my approach that pub could be gone.’
On a extra joyful word, Tim has been spending Christmas delivering hampers to households in want.
Earlier this 12 months, he launched a GoFund me web page referred to as Elle’s Military to lift cash to ascertain a basis in her title.
He joined actor and comic John Could on his stroll from Lands Finish to John O’ Groats to lift consciousness of knife and gun crime in Merseyside.
Subsequent 12 months, he plans to finish a 250km ultramarathon throughout the Sahara Desert in Morocco.
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