Olivia murderer denied bid to appeal conviction

Thomas Cashman shot nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel while attempting to murder a fellow criminal

The man who killed nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel has had his latest attempt to appeal against his murder conviction rejected.

Thomas Cashman shot through the front door of Olivia’s family home in Liverpool as he chased a fellow drug dealer on 22 August 2022.

The bullet passed through the wrist of Olivia’s mother, Cheryl Korbel, before killing the schoolgirl.

Cashman's legal team asked London's Court of Appeal to order an investigation into an allegation that the jury had been given information that was not part of the evidence presented in his trial.

Panic alarms

John Cooper KC, representing Cashman, had applied for an extension of time to submit an application for leave to appeal his conviction.

He said allegations had been made that the jury were given documents relating to co-defendant Paul Russell, who was not involved in the shooting but helped Cashman afterwards by giving him clothing and a lift in his car.

When the trial began Russell had already pleaded guilty to assisting an offender which jurors were not told due to fears of the details prejudicing the case.

Mr Cooper said: "The allegation is of such seriousness that it would be wrong for an investigation not to be ordered.

"It is in the public interest that if allegations of such a serious nature are made, they are substantiated or put to bed."

But, the panel of judges said that the claim had been passed from "someone to someone to someone to someone" before reaching Cashman.

Olivia Pratt-Korbel was hiding behind her mother when she was hit by a bullet

During the hearing, Miss Korbel listened to proceedings via a videolink.

Mr Cooper also told the court there had been suggestions that members of the jury were given panic alarms by police without the knowledge of the defence team.

He told the panel of judges he was not asking for Cashman's conviction to be thrown out based on the allegations alone, but urged the court to seek further information.

However, David McLachlan KC, representing the Crown Prosecution Service, told the court there was "simply no evidence" of a "jury irregularity".

The court rejected the application, with judge, Lord Justice Holroyde, indicating that the reasons for the decision would be published in writing at a later date.

Cashman was convicted of Olivia’s murder, the attempted murder of Joseph Nee, who he had chased into the house, wounding Miss Korbel with intent and related firearms charges at Manchester Crown Court in April 2023.

He was jailed for life with a minimum term of 42 years.