April 4, 2023

ENGLAND: Man Who Shot 9yo Inside Her Home Found Guilty Of Murder, Sentenced To Life. They Say Her Murder Is A Watershed Moment For Gun Crime On Merseyside Streets In Gun-Free England.

GB News published March 30, 2023: Man who shot nine-year-old has been found guilty of murder. 'It's hoped that the murder of Olivia Pratt-Korbel will be a watershed moment for gun crime on Merseyside streets.' A 34-year-old drug dealer who fatally shot nine-year-old, Olivia Pratt-Korbel, has been found guilty of murder at Manchester Crown Court. Sophie Reaper reports.
The Mirror published March 30, 2023: Olivia Pratt-Korbel: Arrest footage of man found guilty of murdering nine-year-old. Thomas Cashman found guilty of murdering nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel. Footage used in the trial of Thomas Cashman for the murder of nine-year-old schoolgirl Olivia Pratt-Korbel.
Sky News published April 3, 2023: Olivia Pratt-Korbel Murder: Cashman to spend most of life behind bars. Sky's Martin Brunt reflects on the sentence of 34-year-old Thomas Cashman, who will not be considered for release until he's 76.
Sky News published October 2, 2022: Man charged with murder of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel in Liverpool. A man has been charged with the murder of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel who was shot dead in her home in Liverpool. The Crown Prosecution Service said 34-year-old Thomas Cashman has been charged with her murder and the attempted murder of her mother Cheryl.

Sky News, Australia
written by Staff
Monday April 3, 2023

The man who shot and killed schoolgirl Olivia Pratt-Korbel has been sentenced to life with a minimum of 42 years for her murder.

Gunman Thomas Cashman, 34, fired shots into the nine-year-old's family home in Dovecot, Liverpool, on 22 August 2022, during what prosecutors described as a "ruthless pursuit" to execute another man.

He was found guilty of Olivia's murder last week, and the wounding with intent of her mother, Cheryl Korbel. Cashman got 10 years for attacking Ms Korbel.

A jury also found him guilty of the attempted murder of Joseph Nee, a convicted drug dealer who he had chased into Olivia's home before opening fire. Cashman was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 22 years for that offence.

Cashman also got 18 years each for two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

All these terms will run concurrently, meaning Cashman will be aged in his mid-70s before he is even considered for parole.

He refused to appear in the dock for sentencing. His lawyer John Cooper KC said he did not attend because he was aware the CPS were singing We Are The Champions following the verdict in the 19-day trial.

Mr Cooper said: "He is concerned that the matter is turning into a circus."

The judge, Mrs Justice Yip, said she regarded his lack of attendance as "disrespectful" to not only the court but those interested in proceedings, including the family of the deceased.

She said: "The defendant has not acknowledged his responsibility for Olivia's death and so has demonstrated no remorse. His failure to come into court is further evidence of that."

Olivia's great-grandmother died before Cashman sentencing

In court, Olivia's mother, Cheryl Korbel, read out an impact statement in which she said her daughter was "loved by everyone" and "never stopped talking".

Ms Korbel, 46, cried as she explained Olivia was due to have her hair cut to donate it to sick children but was killed just five days before the appointment.

"I just miss hearing her voice," she said.

Ms Korbel explained that while the trial has been going on, her grandmother (Olivia's great-grandmother) was admitted to hospital - and she died last night. She said she believed her grandmother was holding on to hear Cashman being found guilty.

'Olivia's name will be remembered for many years'

Sentencing Cashman, the judge described him as "relentless" in his pursuit of Nee, saying he was "wholly unconcerned for the safety of others".

Mrs Justice Yip said: "Olivia's name is likely to be remembered for many years. She should not be remembered only for her dreadful last moments."

The trial at Manchester Crown Court heard Cashman admit to operating as a "high-level" cannabis dealer in the Dovecot area.

Cashman had been "scoping out" Nee on the day of the murder, and lay in wait for him, armed with two guns as he watched a football match at a friend's house.

In footage played to the jury, the gunman was seen chasing Nee up Kingsheath Avenue and firing three shots.

He then followed his target towards the open door of Olivia's home, where Ms Korbel had come out to see what the noise was, and fired the fatal shot into the property.

The court heard Olivia had come down the stairs saying: "Mummy, I'm scared."

The bullet hit Ms Korbel in the wrist as she tried to shut the door and struck Olivia in the chest. She died in hospital.

Olivia's death shocked the city, leading to a desperate police appeal for help to find who was responsible.

Speaking outside court last week, Ms Korbel said she was "ecstatic" at the guilty verdict.

🚨👇 BONUS UK GUN CRIME RELATED 👇🚨
Sky News pubilshed March 14, 2021: Children as young as 12 have been arrested in relation to gun crime. A Sky News investigation shows more than 600 children in the UK were arrested for suspected firearm offences last year. It includes children as young as 12, being detained by police for alleged gun crimes. Sky's David Mercer has the story.
Sky News published February 12, 2020: 'It's easy to get weapons into the UK'. A Sky News investigation has found that there are more illegal guns in the hands of criminals in the UK than ever before. Figures obtained by Sky News show the number of firearms seized by the National Crime agency have quadrupled in the last three years. One drug smuggler even boasted that it was 'easy' to get weapons into the country from Europe. 
Sky News published August 23, 2022: What can be done to tackle Merseyside's gun crime? The tragic death of Olivia Pratt-Korbel, 9, comes in the same week two other shootings and a stabbing took place in and around Liverpool. This week also marks the 15th anniversary of the murder of 11-year-old Rhys Jones, who was mistakenly shot by a gang member in Croxteth on his way home from football practice in 2007. Sky's Home Editor Jason Farrell has been looking at the recent spate of violence on Merseyside and the national concerns over gun crime.
EXCERPT Sky's Home Editor Jason Farrell reports, "In England and Whales gun crime has been falling. But here at Merseyside it's up 50 percent this year and nationally gun related deaths are at a 9 YEAR HIGH. A lot of it relating to criminal networks run by remote business minded drug lords who are cashing in on all the misery." (emphasis mine)

Posted by Princess Mononoke at 3:09 AM

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