• On December 24, a shooter opened fire at the Lighthouse pub in Wallasey Village.
• A vicar has said her funeral will ensure her life is not defined by the tragedy.
• She “laughed and joked and enjoyed” life, Reverend Jeff Staples said during the service.

The funeral of Elle Edwards who was shot on Christmas Eve is a celebration of her life and will ensure “she’s not defined by what happened”, a vicar has said.

On December 24, a shooter opened fire at the Lighthouse pub in Wallasey Village, Wirral, killing Elle Edwards.

Although the 26-year-old was not the intended victim, four other guys also sustained injuries.

She “laughed and joked and enjoyed” life, the Reverend Jeff Staples said during the ceremony, which got underway at 12:30 GMT at St Nicholas’s Church.

On June 7, Connor Chapman, 22, who is accused of killing Ms. Edwards, will go on trial.

The service is being led by Mr. Staples, who told Media e that it was a chance to honor the beautician’s life.

“People will be sad coming to the service, but part of the aim… is to say ‘well, actually Elle‘s life wasn’t a sad life, it was a good life, it was a happy life, it was a full life’,” he said.

“She laughed and joked and enjoyed all the things of life.

“That’s what we need to communicate so that she’s not defined by what happened.”

Paying tribute after his daughter’s death, Ms. Edwards’ father Tim Edwards, said she was “the most beautiful and bright star”.

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