THE man accused of shooting dead Elle Edwards in a pub on Christmas Eve has pleaded guilty to handling a stolen car ahead of his trial.
Connor Chapman, 22, is charged with murdering beautician Elle, 26, who was hit by a stray bullet while drinking with pals.
He faces nine counts in total, including the attempted murder of Jake Duffy and Kieran Salkeld, and wounding of Harry Loughran, Nicholas Speed and Liam Carr.
He is said to have fired a Skorpion sub-machinegun at the packed Lighthouse Inn in Wallasey, Merseyside.
Chapman, of no fixed address, had denied all charges.
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But he changed his plea today on handling a stolen Mercedes, which was allegedly used in the shooting.
His co-accused Thomas Waring, 20, of the Wirral, Merseyside, is accused of possessing the Skorpion submachine gun and assisting an offender by helping dispose of the car allegedly used by Chapman after the shooting.
He pleaded guilty today to an additional charge of failing to comply with a disclosure notice.
A jury of eight women and four men was selected yesterday.
The trial is set to open tomorrow and is expected to last up to four weeks.
