Gunman Thomas Cashman found guilty of murdering nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel
Nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel was shot dead at her home last August
Family handout
A man has been found guilty of fatally shooting nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel as he chased a convicted drug dealer into her home in Liverpool.
Thomas Cashman, 34, admitted being a “high-level” cannabis dealer but denied being the gunman in the incident, which also injured Olivia’s mother Cheryl Korbel and Joseph Nee, the intended target, in Dovecot on August 22 last year.
The men - who were not known to Olivia or her mother - forced their way into the house after Olivia's mum heard noises and opened the front door.
During the trial, which lasted more than three weeks, the jury heard the schoolgirl ran downstairs after hearing shots outside, saying “I’m scared mummy, I’m scared”.
Thomas Cashman, 34, who has been found guilty of murdering nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel
Merseyside Police
A jury at Manchester Crown Court found Cashman guilty of the murder of Olivia, the attempted murder of Nee, wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm to Korbel, and two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.
The bullet which killed Olivia was fired through the front door, hitting her mum in the hand before striking the schoolgirl in the chest.
Nee was injured before he ran towards the house after three shots were fired from a self-loading pistol on Kingsheath Avenue.
The gunman fired a further two shots from a revolver into the Korbel family home, one which killed Olivia and the other which became lodged in the door.
The court heard Nee and his family “had their enemies” and it was not the first time he had been targeted in a shooting.
During his evidence Cashman, a father-of-two, told the court: “I’m not a killer, I’m a dad.”
Relatives of Cashman, including his sister, left the courtroom shouting, swearing and protesting his innocence.
She claimed others were responsible for Olivia’s murder, not her brother, as she was ushered out of the court building by police officers and court security.
Cheryl Korbel (centre) mother of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel, arrives with family members at Manchester Crown Court
PA
Detective Superintendent Mark Baker, the senior investigating officer in the case, said Cashman’s actions were “abhorrent”.
He said: “When he found out that he had shot an innocent young girl, he should have had the courage to stand up and come forward.
“Instead, he chose to lie low despite the fact that he was a dad himself.
“He is not worthy of walking the streets of Merseyside, and neither are those who think they can bring fear or intimidation to our communities through use of firearms.”