Tim Edwards says he is concerned about the planned release of Thomas Waring, who was convicted of offences linked to the killing of his daughter. Waring helped dispose of the vehicle used in the shooting and was jailed in two thousand and twenty three.
Tim Edwards, father of Elle Edwards, has expressed his outrage after being informed that an accomplice to his daughter’s murder will be eligible for early release from prison. Elle Edwards, 26, was fatally shot on Christmas Eve 2022 outside the Lighthouse pub in Wallasey Village. She was hit when gunman Connor Chapman fired a Scorpion submachine gun into a crowd of people. Chapman was subsequently convicted of the murder and sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 48 years.
Thomas Waring, who was found guilty of possessing a prohibited weapon and assisting an offender by burning out the Mercedes used in the shooting, was sentenced to nine years in prison in July 2023. Tim Edwards recently stated he has been told that Waring could be released as early as October of this year. Describing the news as a "massive kick in the teeth," Edwards noted that while the perpetrator who committed the murder remains behind bars, the individual who facilitated the crime is benefiting from an early release scheme.
The government introduced the early release program to address prison overcrowding and prevent facilities from reaching capacity. However, the scheme excludes prisoners convicted of serious offenses such as rape, stalking, and serious child sex crimes. For Edwards, the situation highlights a lack of justice for victims and their families. He expressed his frustration with the Ministry of Justice, suggesting that officials are prioritizing numerical targets over genuine accountability. He also raised concerns about the potential ongoing danger posed by the shooter, whose weapon has never been recovered.
The case has left the family feeling as though they have no say in the judicial process, with Edwards lamenting that while the family is serving a life sentence of grief, those who participated in the crime are being granted freedom.
