Man to stand trial charged with murder of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel

A man is due to go on trial today charged with the murder of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel.

Olivia died after being shot in her own home in Dovecot in summer last year. Thomas Cashman, of Grenadier Drive in West Derby, Liverpool, denies murdering the schoolgirl.

He has also pleaded not guilty to charges of attempting to murder Joseph Nee and wounding with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm against Olivia's mum, Cheryl Korbel, as well as two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life - namely a 9mm calibre self-loading pistol and a 0.3 calibre revolver.

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The 34-year-old is set to go on trial in front of a jury at Manchester Crown Court on Monday, with his trial scheduled to last for four weeks.

Olivia was fatally shot in the chest with a revolver inside her own home on Kingsheath Avenue in Liverpool on the evening of August 22 last year. The gunman had reportedly been chasing after 35-year-old Nee, who was also injured, at the time of the shooting.

Several shots were fired during the incident, with 46-year-old Cheryl having been wounded as well. David McLachlan KC will appear for the prosecution, assisted by Henry Riding and Peter Wilson. Mr Cashman will be represented by Professor John Cooper KC, with Katy Appleton as his junior.

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