Olivia Pratt-Korbel: ‘Hooded’ gunman caught on CCTV before ‘shooting target on street’ & killing girl, 9, at home
A HOODED gunman was caught on CCTV moments before shooting his intended target and killing nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel in her own home, a court heard today.
Thomas Cashman, who is charged with murdering the young girl at her home in Dovecot, Liverpool, was allegedly dressed in black with his face covered as he attempted to blast Joseph Nee.
Footage played to the jury today shows who the prosecution claim is the 34-year-old walking towards a house where he had earlier seen a van belonging to Nee on August 22 last year.
But Cashman is claimed to have aborted the shooting when he saw that the VW was no longer outside the house.
He returned later to lie in wait before running up behind Nee and opening fire.
Nee fled into Olivia’s home, pursued by Cashman, who fired twice more, hitting Olivia and her mum Cheryl, 46.
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Cashman, of West Derby, Liverpool, denies the murder of Olivia, the attempted murder of Nee and the wounding with intent of Cheryl.
He also denies two counts of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life.
'MUM I'M SCARED'
In the first week of his trial, Manchester Crown Court heard that a bullet struck little Olivia just after 10pm on August 22, 2022.
Jurors were told how the schoolgirl screamed, "Mum I'm scared" moments before being shot.
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Olivia had been frightened out of bed and ran to her mother after hearing a commotion outside.
The mum opened the front door to find out what was going on when Nee, bleeding and injured, saw the light from her doorway and ran towards the house, trying to barge in to escape Cashman.
Cheryl, "in a panic" and yelling at Nee banging on the door, tried to shut it on him, as Cashman pursued his target and fired again with a revolver.
The bullet missed Nee, went through the front door, through Cheryl's right hand and hit Olivia in the centre of her chest.
Mum Cheryl begged her stricken daughter, who "went all floppy", to "stay with me, baby" as Nee slumped on the hallway floor.
Cashman tried to shoulder-charge the door open and then his arm came around the door, holding a black handgun, before another shot rang out, the bullet splintering the door frame.
On Tuesday, the jury were shown an image of the door with blood splatters and bullet holes.
A neighbour told police she was in bed when she heard two bangs outside, then two "muffled bangs" followed by "the worst screaming I've ever heard in my life".
She then heard Olivia's sister Chloe on the phone saying: "Where are they, where are they? She is dying."
Armed police arrived at 10.11pm and Olivia was rushed to hospital where she sadly died about an hour later.
'RELENTLESS' PURSUIT
Nee had stumbled out of the house, collapsed in the middle of the road and used his mobile phone.
He was picked up by five men in a black car before police arrived.
Earlier, the court heard that Cashman had been stalking Nee that day, before pouncing in the street where Olivia lived.
Cashman allegedly fired three shots at Nee from a 9mm self-loading pistol, one shot hitting him in the midriff.
Nee stumbled but, as Cashman stood over him, his gun jammed and the victim ran to Olivia's house to escape, it was said.
Cashman followed, the jury heard, "relentless" in his pursuit, swapping his misfiring gun for a second weapon, the revolver, when he fired and hit Olivia.
After the shooting Cashman fled to the house of a woman he knew, who cannot be identified for legal reasons.
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Concluding the prosecution opening on the first day of the trial, Mr McLachlan alleged the defendant had planned the "execution" of Nee but had instead shot a nine-year-old girl.
The trial, which is expected to last four weeks, continues.
