Olivia's mother 'ecstatic' as Cashman guilty of murder

1. Thomas Cashman has been found guilty of murdering nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel in Liverpool last August
2. There were gasps and tears from Olivia's family - dressed in pink in her memory - as the verdict was delivered
3. The family of Thomas Cashman were ushered out of court by police after loudly protesting his innocence
4. Olivia was shot in the chest after Cashman chased Joseph Nee into her mother's home
5. The men - who were not known to mother or daughter - forced their way into the house after mother Cheryl Korbel heard noises on the street and opened her front door
6. Cashman was also found guilty of the attempted murder of Nee and three other counts
7. The prosecution described the case as one "that shocked not simply a city... but also a nation"

Goodbye from us

Dulcie Lee

Live reporter

We're going to bring our live coverage to a close here.

You can catch up with all the key points in our main story here, and read more about the "brave" ex-partner of Thomas Cashman, who became a key witness in the case here.

This page was edited by Rob Corp, Nathan Williams and myself. It was written by Jeremy Gahagan, Laura Gozzi, and Lynette Horsburgh.

Thanks for joining us.

What happened today?

PA Media

Before we bring our live coverage to an end, let's recap the day's key developments:

The verdict

• Just before 15:00, Thomas Cashman, 34, was found guilty of murdering nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel
• Cashman shot Olivia and injured her mother, Cheryl Korbel, after chasing Joseph Nee, a convicted drug dealer, into their house in Liverpool
• The jury also found him guilty of wounding Cheryl Korbel, the attempted murder of Nee and possession of firearms with intent to endanger life
• He'll be sentenced on Monday

The reaction

• On leaving the court building, Olivia's mother Cheryl held a pink teddy aloft and said she was feeling "ecstatic"
• Police praised the "incredible bravery" of one witness, an ex-partner of Cashman, who was key in his arrest
• Liverpool's mayor said Olivia's murder "shocked the entire city", while the acting Bishop of Liverpool said the "appalling" murder must not define the community

The story in pictures

On 22 August last year, the UK was rocked by the news that nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel was shot dead in her home.

We've gathered the pictures that capture the case, taken from the start of the investigation, through to the conviction of her killer earlier on today.

PA Media

Forensics officers scoured the scene in Liverpool after Olivia's murder in August last year

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Dozens of floral tributes were laid in the days after Olivia's death

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Armed police escorted the van carrying Thomas Cashman into Manchester Crown Court for the murder trial at the beginning of March

Elizabeth Cook

A court sketch shows Thomas Cashman, 34, wiping away tears as he was convicted earlier today

PA Media

Emerging from court after the guilty verdict, Olivia's mother held a children's toy aloft and said "yes!", before telling reporters she felt "ecstatic"

Murder trial moved out of Liverpool after local 'shock and emotion'

The "shock and emotion" felt in Merseyside after the murder of Olivia led to Thomas Cashman's trial being moved out of Liverpool.

It was moved to Manchester following representations from his lawyers, who claimed reporting of her death meant he may not receive a fair trial in Liverpool.

Nigel Power KC, who represented Cashman at a hearing at Liverpool Crown Court in December, argued the case should move venue.

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Thomas Cashman was tried in Manchester Crown Court

He referred to comments from former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, the football club's manager Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool City Region's metro-mayor Steve Rotheram and a local priest in the wake of Olivia's killing, as police urged people to come forward with information.

He said: "Of course it's good to have a sense of community and pride in your city, we're not saying otherwise, but we say the effect of all this reporting personalises Liverpool, as much as Olivia herself, as the victim."

In her ruling, Mrs Justice Yip said she was not criticising anyone for what was said and done in the aftermath of Olivia's murder, but she said it was likely "shock and emotion" had been felt more keenly on Merseyside and the circumstances could lead a fair-minded, informed observer to conclude there was a real risk of one or more of the jury being predisposed to finding guilt in the case.

He was eventually tried at Manchester Crown Court, and found guilty on all charges this afternoon.

The gun murders that rocked Liverpool

Liam O'Donoghue & Ian Shoesmith

BBC News

Exactly 15 years to the day before Olivia Pratt-Korbel's murder, another child was killed in a shooting in Liverpool.

When 11-year-old Rhys was shot dead in the crossfire between two warring gangs, the community was shocked to the core.

The Everton-mad schoolboy was hit by a stray bullet as he made his way home from football training in the Croxteth area of the city on 22 August 2007.

It led to much soul-searching and a real desire to ensure no other family had to endure the unbearable pain suffered by Rhys's family and friends.

Football coach Stephen Geoghegan was just yards away when Rhys was shot. Geoghegan said nine-year-old Olivia's murder had triggered intensely painful memories of the day Rhys died in his mother's arms.

"I was there when it happened," he told BBC North West Tonight. “So it will never leave me, ever... and to think that poor Olivia's family have got to go through what Rhys' family went through."

Handout

Local people lived in fear of Olivia killer - police

Let's hear a little more from Det Supt Mark Baker of Merseyside Police, who led the murder investigation.

He said people living in Dovecot were “petrified” of drug dealer Thomas Cashman.

“People were in genuine fear,” he said. People were reluctant to give witness statements as well as hand over CCTV.

“Some people were so fearful they wouldn’t open the door to us,” he said.

But detectives pursued the evidence without fear or favour and obtained warrants to seize CCTV which proved an important part of the investigation.

“We seized 320 items of CCTV. We virtually had every camera from Dovecot seized during the course of the inquiry,” Baker said.

Senseless murder devastated our city - police and crime commissioner

Merseyside's police and crime commissioner Emily Spurrell has also reacted to the guilty verdict, saying that Cashman's refusal to admit his crimes must have compounded the "unthinkable suffering" of Olivia's family.

"Today's guilty verdict will not bring their unique, chatty, beautiful little girl back and sadly it will not end their heartache, but at least they know [Cashman] is off the streets and facing a life sentence for his cowardly and despicable actions," she said.

Spurrell also paid tribute to the police force and thanked the community, adding: "This senseless murder devastated our city. Sadly, it showed there is still a contemptible minority, an underbelly of our society, who have no morals and no care for anyone but themselves and their own greed."

Relief justice is served for Olivia's family - MP

It was a "relief justice has been seen to be done" for Olivia's murder for her family, the MP who represents Dovecot has said.

Ian Byrne, the Labour MP for Liverpool West Derby told BBC Radio 5 Live it has been a "really difficult" time for everyone in Dovecot, Liverpool and West Derby.

He also tweeted his "thoughts and prayers" were with Olivia's mother Cheryl and the rest of the family.

Olivia's murderer a despicable human being - chief constable

BBC

Thomas Cashman has robbed Olivia's family of all the beautiful things she would have done in her life, says Serena Kennedy

The Chief Constable of Merseyside Police Serena Kennedy described Thomas Cashman as a "despicable human being" after he was found guilty of murdering Olivia Pratt-Korbel.

She said:

Olivia will never run down again on a Christmas morning and open her presents, her parents will never get to see that.

She will never go to high school, she will never get to be married, to have children.

He's robbed her family of all those beautiful things that would have done in her life."

Watch: No such thing as a grass when it involves a child - police

Police have praised the bravery of a key witness in the conviction of Thomas Cashman, saying her evidence was "powerful and emotionally and mostly importantly she spoke the truth".

Take a look at Detective Superintendent Mark Baker said here:

Mark Baker, Detective Superintendent for Merseyside Police, praises bravery of key witness

Appalling murder must not define Liverpool - bishop

Diocese of Liverpool

The Bishop of Warrington praised the dignity of Olivia's family and those who came forward to help bring Thomas Cashman to justice

The Bishop of Warrington and acting Bishop of Liverpool says she hopes the verdict will bring "at least a degree of peace" to Olivia’s family.

Right Reverend Beverley Mason praises the dignity of Olivia's family, and the courage of all who "came forward and spoke out", bringing Cashman to justice.

"We must stand against the gangs and unite as communities.

"None of us should forget the story of a little girl whose life was stolen from us, whilst in her own home, by violent men. But this story must not define the community and the great city of Liverpool."

I know from listening to clergy working on the ground, right across the city that we are more than these headlines. Again, we have seen the way the community has come together to support one another and to look to a better future."

Right Reverend Beverley MasonBishop of Warrington

Witness genuinely petrified to give evidence, court told

Potential witnesses in the murder trial were unwilling to go to court and the prosecution applied for four witness summonses, the court heard.

At a hearing held in Liverpool a week before the trial began, Mrs Justice Yip was told witness Timothy Naylor had attended the building as ordered by the summons, but was refusing to go into the courtroom and would not give evidence because he was in fear of his life and the lives of his family.

She granted a warrant for his arrest and Mr Naylor was arrested and taken into court.

Henry Riding, prosecuting, said: "The officers took the view he is genuinely petrified of having to give evidence."

Naylor later told the court he was "terrified".

The witness, who was watching football with Joseph Nee and Paul Abraham on the night of the shooting, was released after agreeing to attend Manchester Crown Court the following week if needed.

PA Media

Police officers felt Timothy Naylor was "genuinely petrified" of having to give evidence at Thomas Cashman's trial

The court also heard that a week before the start of the trial, police had been unable to serve a summons to Abraham because he was not at the address he had given to the court, which was where his family lived they but said they had nothing to do with him.

The two other witnesses issued with summonses had been expected to give evidence about the flight of the gunman in the wake of the shooting.

By the time of the trial, the evidence of the four witnesses had been agreed so they were not required to attend court.

Sunak's thoughts 'with Olivia's family'

A spokesman for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has put out this short statement, following Cashman's conviction: "The prime minister's thoughts remain with the family and friends of Olivia during what must be an incredibly difficult time."

Senseless murder shocked the entire city - Liverpool mayor

Thomas Cashman's conviction has been welcomed by the Mayor of Liverpool.

“Olivia’s senseless murder shocked the entire city, and her family and friends are foremost in our thoughts today," Joanne Anderson says.

PA Media

The Mayor of Liverpool says she hopes the verdict will bring "some comfort" to Olivia's family

"I hope the verdict will bring some comfort to her family, knowing that justice has been done."

She adds: “We are working closely with Merseyside Police and other partners to eradicate violent crime from our communities.”

Watch: CCTV shows shooting of Cashman's intended target

The police have released CCTV footage from moments before Olivia Pratt-Korbel's murder.

In the 16-second clip, Thomas Cashman can be seen chasing and firing shots at his intended target Joseph Nee.

They then both run out of the frame - Cashman then fired through the front door of Olivia's family home, fatally hitting her.

Thomas Cashman: CCTV shows shooting of Olivia gunman's target

Olivia's murder shocked even hardened investigators - police

Det Supt Mark Baker, the Merseyside Police officer who led the murder hunt, said hardened investigators were "extremely shocked" by Cashman's "relentless, careless pursuit and total disregard for any other life" in the shooting.

He said nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel was "extremely frightened" because she heard gunshots and she was "cowering" behind her mother in her own home.

He said when he fired the fourth shot into the house which went through Cheryl Korbel’s hand and into Olivia, Cashman "will have heard the screams and he’s continued to carry on shooting inside the house".

What happened on the night of Olivia's murder?

Liz Roberts

North of England reporter

Family handout

The details of what happened on the night of 22 August last year were given in detail in court.

It’s an unbelievable and terrifying sequence of events. Thomas Cashman, a high-level drug dealer, was lying in wait for his intended target, fellow drug dealer, Joseph Nee.

He shot at him in the street and wounded him. But as he tried to finish the job, his gun jammed.

Nee fled for his life - heading for the light of an open door - the home of Cheryl Korbel, who’d heard the commotion.

As Cheryl tried to close the door to keep the strangers out Cashman shot again.

The bullet went through the door, through her hand, and hit Olivia in the chest.

PA News

Police released this photo of a bullet hole in the front door of Olivia Pratt-Korbel's family home

Watch the moment Olivia's murderer is arrested

Police have released bodycam footage showing the moment Thomas Cashman was arrested on suspicion of murder in September last year.

A heads up, there's some mild swearing in the video.

Thomas Cashman: Moment Olivia murderer is arrested

Olivia's mother feeling ecstatic

Judith Moritz

North of England correspondent, at Manchester Crown Court

On leaving the court building, Olivia's mother Cheryl Korbel tells me she's feeling "ecstatic".

Olivia's mum Cheryl leaves court 'ecstatic' after verdict

Cashman not worthy of walking Merseyside streets - officer

Senior investigating officer Detective Superintendent Mark Baker of Merseyside Police has issued a statement following Cashman's conviction.

He said: "The result today will never bring Olivia back and I know that this will live with her family for the rest of their lives."

He thanked Olivia's families for the "dignity" they showed throughout the trial and said he understood that reliving the events of that night must have been "unbearable" for all.

Baker also praised the role of the witness who was key in arresting Cashman, saying she had demonstrated "incredible bravery": "Her evidence was powerful and emotional and most importantly she spoke the truth."

Cashman, Baker said, "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 the use of firearms".