Olivia Pratt-Korbel: Mum remembers 'sassy, chatty girl' as Thomas Cashman is jailed

Summary

Thomas Cashman, 34, has been jailed for 42 years for the murder of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel in Liverpool
The judge said the murder was "chilling" and that Cashman had shown no remorse and had not acknowledged responsibility
Cashman refused to appear in the dock at Manchester Crown Court - he told his barrister the case was "turning into a circus"
Afterwards, Olivia's mother choked back tears as she said she missed her "sassy, chatty" daughter every day
Olivia was shot in the chest last August as Cashman chased fellow drug-dealer, Joseph Nee, into her mother's home

Live Reporting

Edited by Dulcie Lee

Cashman sentencing hearing beginspublished at 14:44 British Summer Time 3 April 2023
Image source, Police handout
Thomas Cashman's sentencing hearing has started - despite him refusing to turn up in the dock.
He'll be sentenced for nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel's murder, the wounding Olivia’s mother Cheryl Korbel, the attempted murder of another drug dealer Joseph Nee and possession of firearms with intent to endanger life.
We'll bring you the latest from the Manchester Crown Court as we hear from judge Mrs Justice Yip, who will deliver her sentencing remarks on camera.
Cashman's absence disrespectful to court - judgepublished at 14:43 British Summer Time 3 April 2023
Judith Moritz
North of England correspondent in court
Cashman has said that he wants to be sentenced in his absence. Mrs Justice Yip has said she regards this as being "disrespectful to the court".
The hearing is going ahead without him. The dock is empty.
Cashman accuses CPS of singing 'We Are The Champions'published at 14:43 British Summer Time 3 April 2023
Judith Moritz
North of England correspondent in court
Thomas Cashman's barrister John Cooper KC says that Cashman is refusing to come to court because he heard members of the Crown Prosecution Service singing We Are The Champions after he was convicted on Thursday.
Cashman's defence barrister John Cooper KC says: "He has been spoken to and been given certain advice but he is concerned that the matter is turning into a circus."
Hearing to go ahead without Cashmanpublished at 14:40 British Summer Time 3 April 2023
Judith Moritz
North of England correspondent in court
The whole courtroom is assembled.
Eight out of the 12 jurors have come back to court for the hearing - an unusual move.
All barristers are now present. The judge Mrs Justice Yip has just arrived.
Thomas Cashman is not in the dock. The hearing will go ahead without him. His family are also absent.
Cashman won't appear in dockpublished at 14:35 British Summer Time 3 April 2023
Breaking
Judith Moritz
North of England correspondent in court
Cashman's barrister has just come into the courtroom and said that Cashman won't be appearing in the dock.
WATCH: CCTV shows shooting of Cashman's intended targetpublished at 14:34 British Summer Time 3 April 2023
While we wait for the hearing to begin, let's revisit the 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.
Media caption,
Thomas Cashman: CCTV shows shooting of Olivia gunman's target
Cashman yet to appearpublished at 14:25 British Summer Time 3 April 2023
Judith Moritz
North of England correspondent in court
The courtroom is extremely quiet.
Olivia's family, the police investigation team, and the prosecuting barristers are all in position.
However, Thomas Cashman is yet to appear in the dock, and his defence team are not yet in court.
The scene inside courtpublished at 14:21 British Summer Time 3 April 2023
Judith Moritz
North of England correspondent in court
I’m in courtroom number one, waiting for the hearing to begin.
Olivia’s family are here. They’re all wearing pink in her memory. Her mum Cheryl is holding a "memory" teddy bear made of fabric from Olivia’s pyjamas.
What we’ll see todaypublished at 14:16 British Summer Time 3 April 2023
The sentencing hearing will start shortly at Manchester Crown Court.
First, the court will hear some discussion of the sentencing guidelines, and then any mitigation from Cashman's defence team. This bit won’t be filmed, but our north of England correspondent Judith Moritz will bring us the key details from court.
After that, the judge Mrs Justice Yip will deliver her sentencing remarks on camera, before saying how many years Cashman will serve.
You can also watch live BBC coverage at the top of the page - just hit the play button.
The scene outside courtpublished at 14:07 British Summer Time 3 April 2023
While we’re waiting for the hearing to begin, let's take a look at the scene outside Manchester Crown Court from a short time ago.
In case you're wondering why everything's been happening in Manchester rather than Liverpool, Cashman's lawyers successfully argued that the reporting of her death meant he might not receive a fair trial in Merseyside.
Image source, PA Media
Image caption,
Armed police stood guard as a prison van arrived outside the court
Image source, PA Media
Image caption,
A police van was seen arriving a little earlier
Image source, PA Media
Image caption,
Police previously said Cashman was “not worthy of walking the streets of Merseyside” after a jury found him guilty on Friday
A moment of justice - but still much to dopublished at 14:00 British Summer Time 3 April 2023
Judith Moritz
North of England correspondent at Manchester Crown Court
Throughout her murder trial Olivia Pratt Korbel’s family wore pink ribbons. Police officers wore pink blouses, shirts and pin badges. Detectives wore pink ties.
It was a nod to the little girl’s favourite colour, and a reminder that they were all there to secure justice for Olivia. At today’s sentencing they‘re similarly adorned.
But this hearing isn’t just about justice for the nine-year-old and her family. It’s also a moment for the whole community in Dovecot, Liverpool.
The lengthy imprisonment of Thomas Cashman will reassure those he intimidated, and who lived in fear of him. They may feel a bit safer as a result.
But it won’t solve the bigger issues which allowed him to flourish. The drugs trade will continue, and the availability of firearms is still a problem.
The jailing of Thomas Cashman is a big victory for the police. But they know there’s still much to do, to clean up the streets where he operated.
What happened on the night of Olivia's murder?published at 13:56 British Summer Time 3 April 2023
Liz Roberts
North of England reporter
Image source, PA Media
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.
Gasps, tears and shouting: The scene as Cashman was convictedpublished at 13:48 British Summer Time 3 April 2023
Image source, PA Media
Image caption,
Thomas Cashman's girlfriend (right) and family leaving Manchester Crown Court
There were gasps and tears from Olivia's family in court as Thomas Cashman was convicted on Friday.
Olivia’s mum Cheryl Korbel later told reporters she was “ecstatic”.
Merseyside Police said Cashman was "not worthy of walking the streets".
Cashman wiped away tears in the dock and turned to his family in the public gallery behind, shaking his head.
His family left the courtroom shouting, swearing and protesting his innocence - one of his relatives could be heard saying "appeal it".
Olivia's mother arrives at courtpublished at 13:43 British Summer Time 3 April 2023
Image source, PA
Olivia Pratt-Korbel's mum, Cheryl Korbel, has arrived at court ahead of Cashman's sentencing.
She's surrounded by her family, who are all wearing pink - Olivia's favourite colour.
What to expect todaypublished at 13:37 British Summer Time 3 April 2023
Image source, Handout
Thomas Cashman, who murdered nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel, will be sentenced in court shortly.
On Thursday, he was found guilty of her murder, as well as of wounding Olivia’s mother Cheryl Korbel, the attempted murder of another drug dealer Joseph Nee and possession of firearms with intent to endanger life.
Welcome to our coveragepublished at 13:28 British Summer Time 3 April 2023
Dulcie Lee
Live reporter
Good afternoon, welcome to our live coverage from Manchester Crown Court, where we’re waiting for drug dealer Thomas Cashman to be sentenced for the murder of Olivia Pratt-Korbel last August.
This high-profile case made national headlines and cast a spotlight on gun violence and drug crime in the Liverpool area as gang rivalry ended up killing a nine-year-old girl in her home.
There are cameras in court for this - you’ll be able to watch Mrs Justice Yip as she sentences Cashman, and we have our North of England correspondent Judith Moritz in the room too - she’ll be relaying the scene as the sentence is read out.
When Cashman was convicted on Friday, his family reacted angrily and had to be escorted from the courtroom. Olivia’s mother said she was “ecstatic”.
We expect both families to be in court again today.