08 April 2023 , 08:38
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The hitman who killed Olivia Pratt-Korbel attempted to assassinate a man just hours beforehand - but was foiled because his intended victim had gone to Screwfix.
Thomas Cashman, 34, had planned to assassinate Joseph Nee, a convicted burglar and drug dealer, on the evening of August 22 last year, Liverpool Echo reports.
But the botched hit saw Olivia Pratt-Korbel tragically shot dead in her own home.
Cashman's trial, after which he was jailed for life last week, had heard he had spent much of the day patrolling the area in search of Nee.
He spotted Nee's Volkswagen Transporter van parked up on a street in Knotty Ash, Liverpool, in the early afternoon outside the home of a man called Timothy Naylor, where he would later watch the Liverpool v Manchester United match on the television.
Obsessed mum accused neighbour of running brothel and threatened to kill her
Olivia's family described her as a 'unique, chatty, nosey little girl who broke the mould when she was born' (PA)
The youngster was fatally shot at her home in August last year (PA)It was some hours after this when Cashman was primed to attack Nee but, unbeknown to Cashman, Nee had left the area around half an hour earlier.
He had driven the van to a Screwfix at a retail park, a trip the court heard likely saved his life as the prosecution alleged Cashman had been out to shoot Nee dead at this point.
The hitman continued to keep tabs on the address throughout the day however.
For more than half an hour, Cashman waited outside silently with two loaded guns in his possession.
Nee was eventually shot in the midriff after his return and stumbled to the floor as a result of his injuries.
David McLachlan KC, prosecuting, described how Cashman had "murder on his mind" and stood over the helpless 35-year-old and attempted to discharge the firearm again as he begged: "Please don't, don't lad".
But the gun malfunctioned, and Nee was able to escape. Cashman however continued his "ruthless pursuit" as Nee fled toward the Korbel family home in nearby Dovecot, Liverpool.
Cashman was jailed for life for the murder of Olivia Pratt-Korbel (tommy.cashman.71/Facebook)Forty-six-year-old mum Cheryl, alarmed by the gunfire outside, had stepped out of her house to investigation but quickly rushed back indoors when she saw Nee running towards her and away from Cashman - who was dressed all in black and had his face covered.
She then tussled with the gunman's intended target in an attempt to keep her front door shut and to keep him out of the property, but was unable to fully close it as it had been left on the latch in order to allow the neighbours to let themselves in for a cup of tea.
The assailant fired another shot with a second, backup weapon - a 0.3 caliber revolver - at this point. This was the shot which claimed Olivia's life, the bullet passing through the door and travelling through the mother's hand before striking her in the chest.
'My son's a drug lord - he's threatened to kill me but I still love him'
Olivia's mother Cheryl is pictured outside Manchester Crown Court (Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)
The mum held a teddy bear before the sentencing hearing (PA)The schoolgirl had been upstairs in bed, but was heard to say "mummy, I'm scared" as she ran to the bottom of the stairs to her mum having been startled by the commotion.
With Nee by now inside, Cashman then forced his arm around the door and fired one final shot which became lodged in the doorframe.
Olivia was scooped up by the first police officer to arrive at the scene and rushed to Alder Hey Children's Hospital after being critically injured, but was pronounced dead shortly before 11.30pm.
There were emotional scenes in court as Cheryl Korbel recounted the tragedy in a video interview with police, which was played to the jury at Manchester Crown Court.
In it, she said: "I heard the baby screaming, that’s when I turned round and spotted her sat at the bottom of the stairs. I couldn’t keep her awake.
"I knew she’d gone. I knew she’d gone."
Olivia’s family have, meanwhile, released two unseen videos of her before her deathNee was bundled into a car by his associates and taken to hospital, later being transferred to a different hospital after suffering gunshot wounds to the chest and lower abdomen.
Cashman meanwhile escaped the scene of the shooting by leaping through back gardens before making his way to the home of a woman with whom he had previously had an affair.
She was woken by him standing at her bedside before she phoned her boyfriend Paul Russell, who then arrived at the house.
The witness - who cannot be named for legal reasons - reported hearing Cashman make an apparent confession to her partner at the doorstep, telling him: "I've done Joey."
He was then given a change of clothing before being driven back to his Citroen Berlingo van, which he had earlier parked in Knotty Ash, by Russell.
A pair of Under Armour tracksuit bottoms which he was handed at this time were later found at his sister's home on Mab Lane with his DNA and traces of gunpowder residue on them.
Giving evidence from the witness box, the woman told the trial: "I’m sorry, I can’t forgive anyone who has hurt any child. If he was any sort of man he’d just f****** own it.
"I can’t believe he’s making the family go through what they’re going through. It’s a child, it’s a child.
"She can never go home ever again. It breaks my heart."
Police protection was required when Cashman arrived at court for his trial (Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)The attacker was also identified to have worn distinctive Monterrain trackies which matched a pair owned by Cashman.
But he claimed in his evidence that he had no involvement in the shooting and was counting £10,000 in cash and "smoking a spliff" at his friend Craig Byrne's house in Knotty Ash at the time.
Cashman had admitted being a "high level" drug dealer who made up to £5,000 per week selling cannabis.
His various trips around the area throughout the day, by his account, were apparently concerned with his involvement in the supply of the class B substance.
Meanwhile, Cashman accused the woman with whom he had had the fling of attempting to frame him for the murder as she was a "woman scorned".
He suggested that her boyfriend Paul Russell owed him a £25,000 debt and questioned whether she had been motivated by the possibility of reward money.
He told jurors: "It shows you the lengths a woman who’s got something in for someone would go to. This is how low they go to."
The defendant also stated he had "no problems" with the Nee family and counted them as friends.
The lawless father-of-two, who was defended by Professor John Cooper KC, said on the witness box: "I'm not a killer, I'm a dad."
A court sketch shows Cashman wiping away tears in the dock after being found guilty (PA)Cashman was unanimously found guilty of Olivia's murder, attempting to murder Joseph Nee, wounding with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm against Cheryl Korbel and two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.
He was jailed for life with a minimum term of 42 years on Monday.
Sentencing him in his absence after he refused to appear in the dock, Justice Amanda Yip said: "The killing of Olivia Pratt-Korbel is an offence that shocked not only the city of Liverpool, but the nation. Olivia’s name is likely to be remembered for many years.
"She should not be remembered only for her dreadful last moments. Her family have spoken today of Olivia in life and of the hopes and dreams for her future, which were so cruelly snatched away.
"It is plain that Olivia was a lovely little girl, who cared for others and brightened the lives of her family and friends. They have suffered an unimaginable loss which they must carry for the rest of their lives."