Olivia Pratt-Korbel: Coroner suspends inquest pending court case

Olivia died after being shot as her mother struggled with a gunman at the door of her home

A coroner has called for anyone with information about the shooting of Olivia Pratt-Korbel in Liverpool to do their "duty" and come forward.

The nine-year-old was fatally wounded as her mother tried to stop a gunman chasing another man into their house.

Thomas Cashman, 34, has appeared in court charged with her murder.

In a preliminary hearing, senior coroner for Liverpool Andre Rebello suspended her inquest while criminal proceedings take place.

He said: "It is vitally important that anyone who has any information around this incident rings Crimestoppers or contacts Merseyside Police to give them that information as there is a duty on us all to actually ensure that justice is done."

The short hearing, attended by four members of the media, heard how Olivia, whose middle name was Elouise, died at Alder Hey Children's Hospital and her cause of death was a gunshot wound to the chest.

Mr Rebello said a coroner's officer had spoken to Olivia's parents, Cheryl Korbel and John Francis Pratt.

Thomas Cashman appeared at Liverpool Crown Court charged with murder

He said Olivia's death certificate could be provided to her family following the suspension of the inquest.

The court heard that the coroner's investigation will only be resumed if there was good reason to do so.

Mr Rebello said: "That ordinarily means if sufficient evidence is received in public, at the Crown Court, bearing upon who Olivia is, when and where she died and how she came by her medical cause of death then it is unlikely the matter will be resumed.

"If, on the other hand, criminal proceedings take a different course such that information hasn't been aired then there is a good prospect the coroner will consider a resumption."

Mr Cashman, of Grenadier Drive, West Derby, was also charged with two counts of attempted murder and two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life when he appeared in court on Monday.

He is next due to appear at Liverpool Crown Court for a plea hearing on 10 January.

Paul Russell, 40, of Snowberry Road, West Derby, has been charged with assisting an offender.