Mum accused of hiding Elle Edwards' killer in her loft because she 'fancied him'

A mum has been accused of concealing Connor Chapman in her loft following the murder of Elle Edwards because she "fancied him". The 26-year-old beautician was fatally shot outside the Lighthouse pub in Wallasey, Wirral, on Christmas Eve 2022.

Chapman was found guilty of her murder in July last year and subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 48 years. Currently, two men and two women are facing trial at Liverpool Crown Court charged with assisting an offender in relation to the deadly shooting.

David Chambers, Danielle Dowdall, Paul Owen, and Roxanne Matthews all plead not guilty to the charges they face. Today, Wednesday (October 23), the jury, consisting of eight men and four women, continued to listen to testimony from Matthews, reports the Liverpool Echo.

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The 34-year-old stands accused of renting a car and a lodge in Wales for Chapman after the murder, as well as hiding him at her residence on Ormond Mews in Noctorum. Matthews maintains that she was unaware of his involvement in the shooting when she offered assistance.

During cross-examination this morning, Katy Appleton, prosecuting, questioned her: "You told the police 'I just took a liking to him to be honest', referring to Connor Chapman, 'I just used to think he was funny'. Did you fancy him? "

Matthews, who had previously informed the court that the convicted murderer had stayed on her sofa and in her converted attic prior to his arrest, responded with a "no". When Ms Appleton pressed further, asking "is that why you let him stay? ", Matthews reiterated: "No."

It was then suggested to her that she had told detectives during the interview "I'll tell you everything I can", despite claiming at this point that Chapman had taken the hire car without her consent. Matthews responded to this by saying: "Everything other than with regards to giving permission for the vehicle."

Ms Appleton continued to read from the transcript of her questioning after being arrested.

An officer told her "this is your chance to tell us what's gone on", to which she replied "I'd give you 100 per cent if I knew". The mother-of-three told the court: "I give 100 per cent in everything other than hiring the vehicle. I was petrified. If I knew what he'd done I wouldn't have booked him a car in my name to take to Wales. That is the truth."

Matthews, who claims that Chapman had been kicked out by his girlfriend at the time after getting another woman pregnant, was then asked if she "thought it was odd" that he was staying at her home.

She answered: "Not at all, not the reason he was staying at my house."

Ms Appleton put to her: "You were asked what discussions did you and Connor have. You say 'it's not something he's ever brought up or a discussion I've ever had with him, it's not something I would have had a discussion with in general."

Matthews confirmed to the jury "that's correct". Ms Appleton then stated: "You were being asked about your phone call to the police on the 13th of January. You say 'I've got no reason to lie about it or keep any information back'. That's exactly what you did."

She replied: "Nothing in relation to stopping the investigation of the murder". The prosecution barrister pressed on: "You say 'I was faithful to him'. Faithful in assisting him?" Matthews answered: "Faithful in not telling his girlfriend with regards to my friend being pregnant or telling anyone."

Ms Appleton then questioned her about Connor Chapman, saying: "You were asked about Connor Chapman. You say 'they're all gang members, everyone knows this'."

Matthews insisted she was "being totally honest".

When Ms Appleton suggested that instead of helping the investigation, she remained silent about Chapman being at her house, Matthews countered: "No. That's not correct."

During re-examination by her counsel Martine Snowdon, Matthews was queried on "why she had taken a liking to him". She described him to the court as "polite, funny, bubbly. He wasn't rude. He seemed to me like a nice lad. A sense of humour. He was nice."

Ms Snowdon further inquired: "It was suggested you had made up the fact of your friend telling you she was pregnant with Connor Chapman's baby. Did you talk to anyone other than your friend and Connor Chapman about that over this period?"

To which Matthews responded: "No, I wouldn't do that to her. Obviously what she done was wrong. He had a girlfriend and it caused a lot of trouble. He didn't want anyone to know and didn't want his girlfriend to find out."

When asked about her current relationship with the other woman, she said: "No. It was clear I had to mention it. Everything else would explain itself. Obviously she was horrified. It's not something she wanted the world to know, especially after what he'd been charged for."

Matthews has denied any wrongdoing, entering a not guilty plea to three counts of assisting an offender. The case against Dowdall, who is 34 and from Woodchurch, includes a charge of assisting an offender which he denies.

Chambers who is 43 and currently without a permanent residence, refutes two counts of the same charge. Owen, from Woodchurch and aged 50, has also pleaded not guilty to one charge.

Presiding over the trial is Mr Justice Morris, and the proceedings are ongoing.