Due to the government’s congested jail system, the father of Elle Edwards, who was sadly slain on Christmas Eve 2022, has denounced the early release of Thomas Waring, the accomplice of her killer, Emotionally reacting to the Ministry of Justice’s (M.O.J.) Tim Edwards called the judgement a “mockery” of justice and voiced his wrath.
On December 24, 2022, Elle Edwards was seated outside the Lighthouse pub in Wallasey Village, Wirral, when she was hit by two stray shots from a sub-machine pistol. Initially meant for two other males, the gunshot sadly killed three others and injured three more.
20 at the time of the crime, Waring was found guilty in July 2023 for aiding the criminal and carrying a weapon. Waring was instrumental in trying to cover up the crime together with gunman Connor Chapman, who fired the rounds.
How Did Prison Overcrowding Lead to Waring's Early Release?
Tim Edwards’s letter from the M.O.J. clarified that significant jail overcrowding would cut Waring’s sentence. Originally sentenced to nine years, Waring would have qualified for early release under the prior guidelines; however, his release date has advanced by over a year. Now, almost a year ahead of expected, his new release date is October 2026.
Under the Home Detention Curfew program, Waring might be freed as early as April 2026, although this would be subject to a risk assessment later.
“I find it completely repulsive. Deeply annoyed by the development, Tim Edwards remarked, “This is a mockery of everything we fought for, and it makes a laughing stock of the justice system.”
What Was Thomas Waring's Role in Elle Edwards' Murder?
Waring was “right at the core,” Tim Edwards has made abundantly evident, of the events leading to the death of his daughter. Edwards thinks Waring had equal responsibility for the murder of her daughter even as Chapman, the gunman, fired his weapon.
“Based on what I know, he was as guilty as the person who fired the gun,” Tim Edwards said. “Waring helped them burn the car, so they hid the killer’s tracks, and disposed of the gun—which, to the best of knowledge, is still out there someplace. It might still be under someone’s possession and active.”
The prosecution obtained specific evidence of Waring helping Chapman by taking him to a far-off location where the car used in the crime was discovered burned out. Never found has been the gun used in the shooting—a Skorpion submachine gun.
How Has the Early Release Affected Elle Edwards' Family?
The early release of Waring has only made Tim Edwards’s sadness more intense as he works through the loss of his daughter. The M.O.J. ‘s letter of the updated release date “hit him like a punch in the stomach.”
“Every time you think you’re starting to heal, something like this happens,” Edwards said, like a continuous kick in the teeth.
The circumstances seem to him as a continuous struggle against a flawed legal system. “It must alter as it is essentially erroneous. We are not being served by the system. This is betrayal, not justice.”
Edwards also mentioned how difficult it is now to continue the struggle he started after Elle passed away. “I’m not going to allow this to happen,” he declared. “It seriously compromises our attempts to ensure Elle’s death wasn’t in vain. Future generations have been warned about the perils of gang culture, hence this action sends the incorrect message.”
What Action Is Tim Edwards Taking to Seek Change?
Tim Edwards has written a letter to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to attempt system reform. In his letter, he expresses his worries about the ramifications of early prisoner releases and asks for an in-person meeting to discuss the possible handling of the following instances.
“This issue transcends one case; thus, I would want to personally address the Prime Minister. It influences every family, every victim,” Edwards said.
The idea of Waring’s early release is proving more challenging as the second anniversary of the death of his daughter gets near. “I’m doing everything I can to make sure my daughter’s death wasn’t in vain,” Edwards added, his voice laden with emotion. But this only makes it even more challenging.
Why Is Connor Chapman Serving a Life Sentence?
Waring might be freed early, but Connor Chapman—the man who fired the lethal bullets—remains behind prison. Chapman, 23 at the time of the murder, was found guilty of both the attempted murder of two men, the intended targets of the gunshot, and the murder of Elle Edwards. He was also found guilty of related weapon counts and wounded three more onlookers. Chapman received a life sentence with a minimum period of 48 years.
Given the continuous instability in the prison system, the early Warning release decision has attracted more criticism.
Defending the choice, a Ministry of Justice spokesman said, “This was a terrible act and our prayers are with the family and friends of Elle Edwards. Inheriting a prison system on the brink of collapse, the new government was compelled to implement an emergency release scheme to prevent a crisis that would have overrun the criminal justice system.”
What Does This Case Say About the Justice System?
For Tim Edwards, early Warning release accentuates the shortcomings of the present justice system. “What happened to my daughter is horrific enough, but then to be told that the person who helped cover it over could walk free sooner than expected—it feels like the system is failing every victim and every family out there,” he added.
Tim Edwards’ struggle for justice is far from finished, as the community still laments Elle’s death. “Everyone who feels like the system has let them down; the fight continues, not just for Elle.”
