‘Military style Skorpion sub-machine gun’ capable of firing 15 rounds a second shown in Elle Edwards ‘murder’ trial
A SKORPION sub-machine gun that can fire 15 rounds a second has been shown to the jury in Elle Edwards' murder trial.
The 26-year-old beautician was gunned down outside the Lighthouse pub in Wallasey Village, Wirral, Merseyside.
It is believed innocent Elle was caught in the crossfire of a deadly gang war between rival groups.
Jurors at Liverpool Crown Court were today shown the type of gun Connor Chapman, 23, allegedly used to kill Elle.
The Skorpion sub-machine gun is a Czech firearm designed for the security services and the army.
Forensic firearms scientist Andre de Villiers Horne explained how the weapon has three modes - safe, semi-automatic or fully automatic.
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He told jurors that in fully automatic mode, the gun would launch a volley of shots until the shooter takes their finger off the trigger.
Mr Horne added: "This particular gun has got a high firing rate of 14 to 15 rounds per second so if you pull the trigger and don't let go very quickly, before you can sneeze you would have emptied the magazine."
On the night Elle was killed, the gun was in semi-automatic mode with an initial volley of seven shots fired by the gunman, before a further two shots, a brief pause and then another three shots.
The expert said had it been fully automatic, the first seven shots would have been fired within half a second.
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Jurors were also told a single particle of gunshot residue was found on the back of a red glove seized at the home of Thomas Waring, where Chapman allegedly went after the shooting.
Footage played earlier in the trial appeared to show the gunman wearing red gloves during the horror.
Elle was enjoying a festive drink on Christmas Eve last year when a gunman opened fire on the pub.
The beautician was killed after two bullets hit her in the back of the head, with five others injured during the carnage.
Jurors were told it came after a "history of trouble" between rival groups from the Woodchurch and Ford estates, on either side of the M53 in the Wirral.
Chapman denies murder, two counts of attempted murder and three counts of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
He has also pleaded not guilty to possession of a sub-machine gun and ammunition with intent to endanger life.
Thomas Waring denies possessing a prohibited weapon and assisting an offender by helping Chapman to dispose of the car.
The trial continues.
