The judge continues, saying the evidence in the case shows that this murder did involve planning and premeditation.

"The offence is aggravated by the planning, the relentless pursuit of Joseph Nee and the use of two firearms," she says.

The judge adds the defendant had sourced two guns and knew what vehicle Joseph Nee, the intended target, was driving.

The judge has praised the woman who gave key evidence against Cashman, saying she has granted the woman life-long anonymity."Her evidence was significant ... and she chose to do the right thing," the judge says, adding that Cashman invented a defence aimed at "humiliating and undermining" the witness.

"It did not work," she says.

You can read more about the key witness here.

Cashman has been given a life sentence for the murder of Olivia Pratt-Korbel.

The judge says: "For the murder of Olivia there is only one sentence that can be passed. That is of mandatory life imprisonment."

But she says that while she considered a whole life order, she has decided it is not merited because the planning and premeditation was not directed at the child.

We're yet to hear exactly how many years his sentence will be.

The judge is continuing detailing her sentence.

She says that although Cashman did not know Olivia was behind the door, he saw her mother Cheryl.

"He knew that a wholly innocent woman was by the door, and yet that is where he chose to take aim.. if he'd only paused for a moment he'd have thought this was a family home," she says.

Judith Moritz
North of England correspondent in court

The judge says Olivia's killing shocked not only Liverpool but the nation.

She says Olivia's future was "so cruelly snatched away" and her family will carry her loss with them for the rest of their lives.

"They should know they have my sympathy," she adds.

Mrs Justice Yip says Cashman was "undeterred and wholly unconcerned" for others when he chose to continue to shoot into Korbel's home.

She says Olivia came downstairs when she heard the shots. She told her mother that she was scared.

Olivia stepped "directly into the line of fire", the judge adds,

We're now hearing Judge Mrs Justice Yip's sentencing remarks live from Manchester Crown Court.

She begins by saying she had directed Cashman to enter the court for sentencing, but he refused.

"Mr Cashman has been brought from court but has refused to leave the cells. I am left with no choice but to sentence him in his absence," she says.

You can watch the judge's sentencing remarks live at the top of the page.

Image source, Family handout

The court has paused for a short break now - afterwards we'll hear the judge deliver her sentencing remarks.

In the meantime, let's recap what's happening.

Thomas Cashman, 34, is being sentenced after he was found guilty of murdering nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel in her home in Dovecot, Liverpool last year. He's refused to appear, saying it's turned into a "circus".

Here’s a reminder of what unfolded on the night of Olivia's murder:

• Olivia was fatally shot as her mother, Cheryl Korbel, tried to stop a gunman entering their house on 22 August
• He had been chasing Joseph Nee, who is said to have been the intended target, through the street
• In a police interview, Korbel said she had heard bangs outside her home. When she went outside to look, she saw a man coming up the road
• She closed her front door but it did not shut properly because it was left on the catch
• Korbel was shot in the wrist as she tried to shut the door to stop two men entering. Olivia, who was behind Korbel, was shot in the chest
• Cashman fired two more times, hitting Nee in his upper body, before fleeing the scene
• Korbel told investigators a neighbour started CPR on Olivia before police turned up and removed her from the house

Judith Moritz
North of England correspondent in court

John Cooper KC is still mitigating on behalf of Thomas Cashman.

He argues that Cashman "didn't engage in substantial planning or preparation" for the shooting.

Mrs Justice Yip tells Cooper that there would be a different sentence starting point if this had been the planned murder of a child.

If it had, it would be a whole life tariff, she says.

Judith Moritz
North of England correspondent in court

We've just finished hearing from the prosecution as well as Olivia's family, including her mum and her teenage sister.

Thomas Cashman's barrister, John Cooper KC, is now speaking and is mitigating on behalf of Cashman, who has refused to appear in the dock.

Cooper says the court cannot be sure on the evidence that there was an intention to kill Olivia.

Mrs Justice Yip interrupts him to say she's sure Cashman intended to kill Joseph Nee, the intended target on the night Olivia was killed.

Judith Moritz
North of England correspondent in court

"I can't get over the fact that Cashman continued to shoot after hearing the screams," Olivia's mother Cheryl Korbel says. "I cannot even think about re-building our lives without Liv."

She says that her nan passed away last night, adding: "I believe she lived long enough to see that coward found guilty".

Judith Moritz
North of England correspondent in court

More now from Olivia's mum, Cheryl Korbel.

"On that night when I realised Liv had been shot and needed me I wasn't able to do CPR on her because of my injury. I felt so helpless," she says.

Olivia's mum was also shot in the wrist by Thomas Cashman, which he'll be sentenced for today.

"My worst nightmare was being separated from her when she needed me the most. I was the first person to hold my baby and I should have been the last," she says.

Judith Moritz
North of England correspondent in court

"It's so very quiet without her, I just can't cope with the silence," Olivia's mother Cheryl Korbel continues.

She says that every afternoon at 14:30 she thinks about the school pick-up: "My mind keeps telling me that I've forgotten to pick her up from school."

"Everything I do and everywhere I go there's a constant reminder that she's not with me. This happened in our home where we should have been safe and felt safe.

"We've had no choice but to leave. When we were let back in by the police it was as if time had stood still. Liv's new bike was there. We had to pack up our old life - packing my baby's things into a box. No mother should ever have to do that."

Judith Moritz
North of England correspondent in court

Eight members of the jury are sitting opposite Olivia's mother Cheryl Korbel as she gives her statement. Several of them are tearful.

Judith Moritz
North of England correspondent in court

"Olivia slept in my room until she was one," her mother Cheryl Korbel, continues.

"Chloe [her older sister] was like a second mum to her. Olivia was loved by everyone. She'd dress her dog Gizmo in a blanket and push him round the house in a pram."

Cheryl is crying as she tells the court that before she died, Olivia heard about the work done by the Little Princess Trust, to donate hair to children who had lost theirs.

She was due to have hers cut, to donate it "for the sick children" but she was killed five days before the appointment.

Olivia's mother, Cheryl Korbel is now walking to the witness box to give her statement.

There's a teddy bear sitting on the witness box. Korbel says it's called Liv, and is made from Olivia's pyjamas.

Korbel says she was 36 when she had Olivia, and already had Ryan (13) and Chloe (8).

Olivia was 6 weeks early, and so tiny she fitted in one hand.

Image source, PA Media

Judith Moritz
North of England correspondent in court

The court is now hearing directly from Olivia's teenage sister Chloe - she's standing in the witness box.

"Olivia was the best friend I had always wanted. We were so close, as I was not only her big sister but I'd look after her when our mum was working," she says.

"Olivia clearly believed that what was mine was also hers. I'd often look for something and not be able to find it. It'd turn up the next day in her makeup bag or in one of her drawers."

She describes 22 August - the day Olivia was killed - as the worst day of her life.

"When I was told she had passed away I felt as though my heart stopped beating."

She closes her statement by saying: "This happened, this is reality, I miss Olivia, I miss my baby sister, and I miss my best friend, all the things we should be doing, shopping together, laughing together and making memories."

Judith Moritz
North of England correspondent in court

Olivia's father John Pratt sits at the back of the court listening to his statement being read out on his behalf.

"I am heartbroken. Sometimes I just want to end it so that I can be with Olivia again," it says.

"I want to visit Olivia, and I sometimes sit outside the cemetery but I can't go in because if I do it'll all seem too real."

His statement continues: "You have denied my beautiful girl Olivia her future.

"I will never see her on her wedding day, and walk her down the aisle, and see her grow into the beautiful woman she was destined to become.

"We have been robbed of her future ... because of you she will always be forever nine."

Judith Moritz
North of England correspondent in court

In court, a statement is now being read on behalf of Olivia's dad, John Pratt. It's being read to the court by prosecutor Henry Riding.

It's directly addressed to Thomas Cashman - but he isn't in the dock to hear it.

"I want you to know that you've changed my life and my family's life forever," Pratt says.

Because of the Covid pandemic, Pratt only saw his daughter for the first time in two years on the day before she was killed.

"I have nightmares about how she died, and the nightmares won't go away," he adds.

Judith Moritz
North of England correspondent in court

We're hearing from the prosecution now. David McLachlan KC submits that the minimum sentence should be a starting point of 30 years.

That would be the starting point for sentencing for Olivia's murder, he says. There are another four counts on the indictment too - including attempted murder.

We're also hearing about Cashman's previous convictions - he has 18 previous convictions for 33 offences.