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| Thomas Cashman: 'Brave' ex-partner helped convict Olivia's killer | Thomas Cashman: 'Brave' ex-partner helped convict Olivia's killer |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Thomas Cashman had denied being the gunman who shot Olivia | Thomas Cashman had denied being the gunman who shot Olivia |
| "Ruthless killer" Thomas Cashman was convicted of murdering nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel in large part because of his "petrified" former partner's "incredible bravery" in coming forward, police said. | "Ruthless killer" Thomas Cashman was convicted of murdering nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel in large part because of his "petrified" former partner's "incredible bravery" in coming forward, police said. |
| The 34-year-old fatally shot Olivia and injured her mother Cheryl Korbel at their Liverpool home during a botched "execution" of a convicted drug dealer following a chase on 22 August. | The 34-year-old fatally shot Olivia and injured her mother Cheryl Korbel at their Liverpool home during a botched "execution" of a convicted drug dealer following a chase on 22 August. |
| Cashman was widely feared in the Dovecot area of the city, where he made up to £5,000 per week as a "high level" cannabis dealer, using intimidation and violence to ensure payment. | Cashman was widely feared in the Dovecot area of the city, where he made up to £5,000 per week as a "high level" cannabis dealer, using intimidation and violence to ensure payment. |
| Fear of reprisals meant police and prosecutors were concerned they would struggle to ever bring Olivia's masked killer to justice. | Fear of reprisals meant police and prosecutors were concerned they would struggle to ever bring Olivia's masked killer to justice. |
| But the crucial breakthrough came when a woman, who Cashman went to on the night of the murder, approached police two days later. | But the crucial breakthrough came when a woman, who Cashman went to on the night of the murder, approached police two days later. |
| Olivia was fatally shot in her own home | Olivia was fatally shot in her own home |
| The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had previously had a brief relationship with the killer. | The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had previously had a brief relationship with the killer. |
| She told detectives she was "petrified" of Cashman, but "this is a nine-year-old child - I want her family to get justice". | She told detectives she was "petrified" of Cashman, but "this is a nine-year-old child - I want her family to get justice". |
| The key witness said she was still "terrified" of him as she was giving evidence at his Manchester Crown Court trial. | The key witness said she was still "terrified" of him as she was giving evidence at his Manchester Crown Court trial. |
| "When there's a little girl involved, there's no form of grassing in my world," she told the jury. | "When there's a little girl involved, there's no form of grassing in my world," she told the jury. |
| The man who led the murder hunt, Det Supt Mark Baker of Merseyside Police, said her decision to come forward "was a really important moment in the investigation". | The man who led the murder hunt, Det Supt Mark Baker of Merseyside Police, said her decision to come forward "was a really important moment in the investigation". |
| The witness had been incredibly courageous, says Det Supt Mark Baker | |
| The witness had been incredibly courageous, says Det Supt Mark Baker | |
| Senior prosecutor Maria Corr said Cashman had used two guns while shooting at his intended target Joseph Nee. | Senior prosecutor Maria Corr said Cashman had used two guns while shooting at his intended target Joseph Nee. |
| "In the community, people [were] afraid of coming forward - because would their child be next?," she said. | "In the community, people [were] afraid of coming forward - because would their child be next?," she said. |
| "The privacy and safety of your own home - this ruthless killer didn't care. He shot a little nine-year-old child." | "The privacy and safety of your own home - this ruthless killer didn't care. He shot a little nine-year-old child." |
| 'Powerful and strong' | 'Powerful and strong' |
| In an interview with BBC News, Ms Corr said Cashman's actions begged the question: "If someone is like that, would you come forward? | In an interview with BBC News, Ms Corr said Cashman's actions begged the question: "If someone is like that, would you come forward? |
| "Thankfully, we had a witness who had the courage of her convictions and wanted justice and she was very, very, brave." | "Thankfully, we had a witness who had the courage of her convictions and wanted justice and she was very, very, brave." |
| Ms Corr said that when she assessed the woman's interview with detectives, she found her words to be "powerful, strong and the bottom line was she was telling the truth". | Ms Corr said that when she assessed the woman's interview with detectives, she found her words to be "powerful, strong and the bottom line was she was telling the truth". |
| She explained: "We had all the independent evidence that corroborated her account - the tracksuit bottoms, the [gunshot residue] on those tracksuit bottoms, the T-shirt, the telephone call to her partner who then came, then we saw him [dropping] Thomas Cashman off. | She explained: "We had all the independent evidence that corroborated her account - the tracksuit bottoms, the [gunshot residue] on those tracksuit bottoms, the T-shirt, the telephone call to her partner who then came, then we saw him [dropping] Thomas Cashman off. |
| "Then we had that little clip of CCTV of [a man] then taking what she said was the bag with murder clothes in it to somebody else." | "Then we had that little clip of CCTV of [a man] then taking what she said was the bag with murder clothes in it to somebody else." |
| Ms Corr added: "She was telling the truth - and it was at that moment I thought, 'Yes, the officers had done enough for me to make my charging decision'." | Ms Corr added: "She was telling the truth - and it was at that moment I thought, 'Yes, the officers had done enough for me to make my charging decision'." |
| The witness was strong, powerful and told the truth, senior prosecutor Maria Corr said | |
| Det Supt Baker agreed the witness had been incredibly courageous, especially given "the levels of fear in the community". | Det Supt Baker agreed the witness had been incredibly courageous, especially given "the levels of fear in the community". |
| Even though he said officers had obtained 320 pieces of CCTV footage - sometimes only seized following court orders - the senior investigating officer said: "Without witnesses there is no justice." | Even though he said officers had obtained 320 pieces of CCTV footage - sometimes only seized following court orders - the senior investigating officer said: "Without witnesses there is no justice." |
| It was "probably the bravest thing that I've seen in my career in terms of coming forward and providing evidence in court", he added. | It was "probably the bravest thing that I've seen in my career in terms of coming forward and providing evidence in court", he added. |
| Det Supt Baker also said that while there had been a £200,000 reward offered to anybody providing evidence leading to the conviction of Olivia's killer, the witness had not made a claim. | Det Supt Baker also said that while there had been a £200,000 reward offered to anybody providing evidence leading to the conviction of Olivia's killer, the witness had not made a claim. |
| "During the course of the trial... there was an allegation that she was financially driven," he said. | "During the course of the trial... there was an allegation that she was financially driven," he said. |
| "She came to us on 24 August - two days after the murder - before any reward was even offered. She wasn't financially driven. | "She came to us on 24 August - two days after the murder - before any reward was even offered. She wasn't financially driven. |
| "She explained herself in open court what her motive was, and she's done it for all the right reasons. | "She explained herself in open court what her motive was, and she's done it for all the right reasons. |
| "Because a line had been drawn in the sand in respect of the shooting of a nine-year-old girl in her own house." | "Because a line had been drawn in the sand in respect of the shooting of a nine-year-old girl in her own house." |
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