Four families united in grief join film screening

Elle Edwards was shot outside a pub in Wallasey Village, Wirral

The bereaved families of four Merseyside shooting killings have told how they have been united in "a club we never asked to be in" - as a special new film aims to highlight the impact of violent crime.

Tim Edwards and three other families were speaking at the launch of the film in Liverpool, which also featured a poetry reading.

His daughter Elle Edwards, 26, was shot outside a pub in Wallasey Village, Wirral, on 24 December 2022 after being caught in the crossfire of a gangland feud.

Also attending were relatives of Olivia Pratt-Korbel, Ashley Dale and Sam Rimmer - who were also killed - and the group said they wanted to "help the kids of this city and the people of this city".

The families of Ashley Dale, Elle Edwards, Sam Rimmer and Olivia Pratt-Korbel attended the event, with some of them appearing in the short film

The event took place in Liverpool as part of Operation Evolve, which police said aimed to dismantle criminal gangs.

Speaking during National Grief Awareness Week, Mr Edwards said that while Christmas was a difficult time, his family would be coming together and "there is always going to be a place at the table for Elle".

The event involved about 100 school children as well as year six pupils from Olivia Pratt-Korbel's primary school.

The nine-year-old was murdered when gunman Thomas Cashman chased a drug dealer into her Liverpool home on the evening of 22 August 2022, firing a gun into the hallway.

Ashley Dale's mother Julie is also featured in the short film

Pupils attending the event watched poet Joseph Roberts, 21, perform his poem Dear Merseyside in the short film.

"People aren't going to remember exactly what we said in the poem but what they will remember is how it made them feel," Mr Roberts said.

"It's me speaking to the city and saying listen, let's put the knives down, let's work together and create a brighter future," said Mr Roberts.

'Living with aftermath'

Also attending the event were Ashley Dale's mother, Julie, Olivia Pratt-Korbel's mum, Cheryl and Sam Rimmer's mother, Joanne.

Ashley Dale, 28, was shot with a machine gun on 21 August 2022 after James Witham burst into her Liverpool home and began firing after a feud with her boyfriend.

Julie said the event was important to get the message across that "this is just not a five minute news bulletin on the TV - this is our life.

"We have to live with the aftermath of what's happened."

Sam Rimmer's family were also at the event. He was 22 when he was fatally shot by a man on an electric bike in Dingle, Liverpool, on 16 August 2022. Police are still searching for his killer.