Man is found guilty of murdering Olivia, nine

A MAN has been found guilty of fatally shooting nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel as he chased a convicted drug dealer into her home in Liverpool.

Thomas Cashman, 34, admitted being a high-level” cannabis dealer but denied being the gunman in the incident, which also injured Olivia’s mother Cheryl Korbel, 46, and Joseph Nee, the intended target, in Dovecot on August 22 last year.

A jury at Manchester Crown Court found him guilty of the murder of Olivia, the attempted murder of Nee, wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm to Ms Korbel, and two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

There were gasps and tears from Olivia’s family, including her mother, who wore a pink cardigan and clutched a teddy, as the verdicts were returned.

Cashman wiped away tears in the dock and turned to his family in the public gallery behind, shaking his head. One of Cashman’s relatives could be heard saying appeal it” and they left the courtroom shouting and swearing. His sister claimed others were responsible for Olivia’s murder, not her brother, as she was ushered out of the court building by police officers and court security.