Olivia Pratt-Korbel: Man accused of murdering girl, 9, in her own home remanded in custody
A man charged with the murder of a nine-year-old girl in her home has been remanded in custody after appearing in Liverpool Crown Court.
Thomas Cashman, 34, from West Derby, was charged with the murder of Olivia Pratt-Korbel, and was also charged with the attempted murder of Joseph Nee and Olivia’s mother, Cheryl Korbel.
He was further charged with two counts of possession of a firearm to endanger life.
Cashman appeared at Liverpool Crown Court this afternoon where Judge Neil Flewitt KC set a provisional trial date for 6 March next year. The court heard the trial is estimated to last four weeks.
A plea hearing is set to be held on 10 January and Cashman looked at the ground throughout most of the hearing.
Olivia's parents were in court along with police officers and more than 20 members of the media.
Paul Russell, 40, also from West Derby, was charged with assisting an offender, the Crown Prosecution Service said. Nine-year-old Olivia was shot in the chest at her home in Dovecot, Liverpool, on 22 August.
Russell, who is alleged to have assisted Cashman by driving him away from the scene and disposing of clothing, appeared at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court this morning.
No application for bail was made and he was remanded in custody to appear at Liverpool Crown Court on 31 October.
Her mother, Cheryl, was injured as the gunman chased Joseph Nee into the property.
Neither the gunman or Mr Nee were known to the family.
Eleven people have been arrested in the search to find Olivia’s killer, with Merseyside Police trawling through thousands of hours of CCTV footage.
Detective Chief Superintendent Mark Kameen said the police remained committed to finding all those involved in the tragedy, including “the people who have tried to shield and protect individuals”.
Merseyside Police have previously said that it had identified two weapons used by the killer, with a .38 revolver responsible for the fatal shot.
On 15 September, Olivia’s funeral was held at St Margaret Mary’s Church in Knotty Ash. Pink ties, jackets, scarves and bows were worn by those attending the service after her family asked people to wear a “splash of pink”.
Cheryl Korbel carried a pink teddy bear into the service, during which she said: “Liv touched so many people’s hearts and was loved and adored by everyone. She will never be forgotten.
“I will never say goodbye but what I will say is goodnight, love you, see you in the morning.”
