The man accused of killing Elle Edwards suggested his co-defendant contradicted his account of where he was on the night of the murder "to get a lenient sentence".
Connor Chapman is on trial at Liverpool Crown Court accused of firing 12 shots at a group in front of the Lighthouse Pub, Wallasey Village, shortly before midnight on Christmas Eve last year.
"Wholly innocent" Elle, 26, was struck twice in the head by bullets from a Skorpion sub-machine gun. Five men, including alleged "intended targets" Kieron Salkeld and Jake Duffy, were also injured.
READ MORE: Elle Edwards latest: Live updates as Connor Chapman enters witness box
During the trial, Chapman has told the jury he was at home in Houghton Road, Woodchurch, all night on Christmas Eve and did not leave after returning home from a shopping trip to Manchester between 7pm and 8pm.
The prosecution case, based on disputed CCTV footage, is that Chapman left his home at 8.31pm, disappeared off camera for 12 minutes, and then drove to the murder scene in a stolen black Mercedes A-Class car at around 8.44pm.
Nigel Power, KC, prosecuting, has told the jury that Chapman allegedly fled from the pub in the same car, and drove to Private Drive in Barnston, the home of his friend, 20-year-old Thomas Waring. The jury has seen CCTV footage of a man with seemingly long hair, walking along Private Drive and then appearing to drop an object to the floor, which the prosecution say is the murder weapon.
Chapman denies he is the man recorded in the CCTV footage on Private Drive or that he was in the area on Christmas Eve after the shooting.
However, the jury has heard that Waring, who denies assisting an offender and possession of a prohibited firearm, instructed his barrister, William England, to suggest that Chapman did attend his address in the early hours of Christmas morning.
Today, Mr Power asked: "Can you think of any reason Thomas Waring would instruct his barrister to suggest to you that person with Connor Chapman hair, walking towards Private Drive, was you unless it was true? Can you think of any reason why Thomas Waring would instruct his barrister to suggest it was you who was at his house from just after midnight until 5am when the taxi went back to your house?”
Chapman responded: “Is that what Thomas has instructed his barrister to do? I wouldn’t know that. He’s probably got more than enough reasons."
Mr Power said: "You could take this, Mr England wouldn’t do that unless Mr Waring had instructed him to do that. He was not out on a frolic of his own, he’s doing that on instruction. I’m asking you if you can think of any reason Thomas Waring would instruct his barrister to suggest that to you?”
Chapman said: "I couldn’t give you a reason. You said he has, if that’s what Thomas says is the truth I hope he gets on the stand and tells you the truth and nothing but the truth. Thomas and his dad originally got arrested for conspiracy to murder."
After being asked to "concentrate on the question", Chapman said: "I wouldn’t really know why Thomas would say that. In my personal opinion, he’s got more than enough reason to tell the prosecution what they want to hear. It doesn’t matter if it’s true or not, you’re going to get a more lenient sentence. He’s got to say something hasn’t he?”
Mr Power asked if he had "had a falling out" with Waring, to which Chapman replied: "No, I was speaking to Thomas three days ago".
Mr Power said: "The suggestion to you was you’re the man at his house, which means you’re the shooter. Can you think of a reason why Thomas would ask for that to be done unless it was true?"
Chapman said: “Maybe he’s under pressure from other people.. I can‘t speak for Tom. Hopefully he gets on this stand and tells the truth and nothing but the truth. I can’t speak for Thomas why he’s said that."
Chapman - of Houghton Road in Woodchurch - denies Elle's murder, attempting to murder Kieran Salkeld and Jake Duffy, wounding with intent against Liam Carr and Harry Loughran, assault occasioning actual bodily harm against Nicholas Speed and possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent to endanger life.
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