People who might be withholding information about the killing of a nine-year-old girl who was shot dead in her own home have been warned they are protecting killers.
As part of their continuing investigation into Olivia Pratt-Korbel’s killing, Merseyside Police again urged the public to come forward and help.
It is almost a week since Olivia was fatally shot when a gunman chased his intended target, who has been named as convicted burglar Joseph Nee, into her family home in Dovecot, also injuring Olivia’s mother, Cheryl, 46.
In a short but dramatic video appeal on Twitter, Merseyside Police warned that anyone withholding information must give it up.
During the video, a voiceover states: “We’ve got parents who’ve lost their children.
“We’ve got a nine-year-old girl who won’t celebrate her 18th birthday. She won’t celebrate her wedding. She won’t have children of her own.
“If you’ve got information and you’re withholding it, you’re protecting the killers. We need your information. Provide that information to us and we’ll do the rest.”
As well as images of Olivia and flowers at the scene of the shooting, the video also featured images of Ashley Dale and Sam Rimmer.
Two men arrested over Olivia’s death were bailed on Saturday.
A 36-year-old man, from Huyton, was recalled to prison after breaching the terms of his licence.
Both he and a 33-year-old man, from Dovecot, were arrested on suspicion of murder and two counts of attempted murder.
Merseyside Police appealed for people to come forward with information “so we can build up a strong evidential picture and bring those responsible to justice”.
The force has previously released an image of a black Audi Q3, which has been seized.
CCTV image issued by Merseyside Police of an Audi Q3.
Merseyside Police
They are still appealing to anyone who saw the vehicle in the days leading up to the shooting, or has any information about its movements after leaving Kingsheath Avenue last Monday night, to come forward.
In other social media appeals, police have insisted “silence is not an option”.
Olivia’s family have urged people to “do the right thing”, saying that speaking up “is not about being a ‘snitch’ or a ‘grass’, it is about finding out who took our baby away from us”.
In a touching tribute, Liverpool FC captain Jordan Henderson wore a top reading “RIP Olivia YNWA (You’ll Never Walk Alone)” for the team’s victory against Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday.
