Olivia killer's bid to challenge murder conviction

Thomas Cashman shot the schoolgirl in a botched assassination attempt

The man who shot nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel will try and seek permission to appeal against his conviction for her murder in court later this month.

Thomas Cashman, then 35, killed the schoolgirl while trying to shoot drug-dealer and burglar Joseph Nee in a botched assassination in Dovecot, Liverpool.

Cashman fired a bullet through the door of Olivia's house and it passed through the wrist of her mother, Cheryl Korbel, before hitting her.

He was jailed for life with a 43-year minimum prison term and has already had an appeal against the length of his sentence rejected.

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

He is due to appear at the Court of Appeal in London on 20 November where his legal team will submit his renewed application for leave to appeal all his convictions.

Cashman was convicted of Olivia's murder, the attempted murder of Mr Nee, wounding Ms Korbel with intent and two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life after a trial at Liverpool Crown Court in 2023.

The court heard Cashman, from West Derby in Liverpool, armed himself with two guns and waited for Mr Nee to leave a friend's house on 22 August, 2022.

Shortly before 22:00 BST he opened fire with a Glock semi-automatic handgun at Mr Nee who fell to the ground.

'I've done Joey'

However the court heard as Cashman approached and attempted to fire another shot, the gun malfunctioned and Mr Nee was able to scramble to his feet and flee.

Ms Korbel, alarmed by the noise outside, opened the front door of her house, which prompted Mr Nee to try and barge inside to escape.

However, Cashman pulled out his back-up firearm, a revolver, and chased Mr Nee to the doorway where he fired the fatal shot before running away.

During the trial a woman who once had an affair with Cashman, and who cannot be named, said he turned up at her house that night and told her partner, "I've done Joey".

The motive for the shooting was never established and Mr Nee did not co-operate with police.

After he was found guilty, Cashman refused to leave his cell to face sentence at Manchester Crown Court prompting a successful campaign for a change in the law.

If a criminal refuses to attend a sentencing, they could now face an extra two years in prison.