The mother of murdered Olivia Pratt-Korbel has promised to always throw the biggest parties for her birthday to ensure her legacy is people having fun.
Olivia, aged nine, was killed in her home when she was caught in the crossfire of a shooting in 2022. Last week the youngster, described as beautiful and sassy, should have celebrated her 11th birthday.
At a huge party on Saturday, her mum Cheryl Korbel, 48, told the Mirror: “It’s a celebration of Liv’s birthday. It’s a massive year because it’s the year she would have gone to big school. From her first birthday to her ninth, Liv was very sassy and it has crossed my mind how much more sassy she would have been coming up to 11.
“Going to get a new uniform and leaving her old school and separating from friends she had gone right through infants and juniors with, it’s a lot to think about. I want Liv’s legacy to be people having fun and laughing. Having these fun days and seeing everyone come out, even when it’s raining, it means the world.”
Last week the youngster, described as beautiful and sassy, should have celebrated her 11th birthday (PA)
Family members held a fundraising event (CHRIS NEILL)Revellers enjoyed activities including a tea cups ride at Dovecot Park in Liverpool. Olivia’s aunt Kim Alcock said: “She would have been flying round here swinging her handbag, she would have loved it. We’ll celebrate every year, she will never be forgotten.
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“We’ll always throw a party with all the balloons and presents. Her legacy will always live on. There isn’t a day that goes by where we don’t speak about her.” In another local park stands “Liv’s tree” – decorated with pink balloons – and grass trimmed into a heart shape around it.
Separately, on what would have been Olivia’s birthday last Thursday, her family, friends and teachers transformed St Margaret Mary’s
Catholic School into Liv Fest. The school gates were also adorned with pink bunting and posters of Olivia.
At a huge party on Saturday, her mum Cheryl Korbel, 48, said: “It’s a celebration of Liv’s birthday" (CHRIS NEILL)The event raised cash for a second school minibus, decorated in butterflies and Olivia’s favourite colours, pink and purple. Cheryl said: “It feels like her leaving a gift to the school where she spent so much of her life.”
Thomas Cashman, 34, was jailed for life in April last year for murder. He shot Olivia and injured Cheryl as he chased a fellow drug dealer into their home on August 22, 2022. Mrs Justice Amanda Yip said Cashman relentlessly pursued Joseph Nee into Olivia’s Dovecot home, where the schoolgirl had left her bed after hearing the commotion.
The event raised cash for a second school minibus, decorated in butterflies and Olivia’s favourite colours, pink and purple (CHRIS NEILL)During sentencing, the judge added: “She came downstairs to seek the comfort of her mother. Her last words were, ‘Mum, I’m scared’. In a terrible twist of fate, she had stepped directly into the line of fire.”
Mrs Justice Yip said that Cashman had shown no remorse when he refused to attend his sentencing. He was given a 42-year minimum jail term and last November his application for permission to file for an appeal was denied by a judge.
His previous attempt to gain permission to challenge his minimum jail term was rejected by a judge without a hearing in July 2023.
To donate to Olivia's birthday fundraiser click here.
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