Thomas Cashman jailed for life for murder of Olivia Pratt-Korbel as killer refuses to enter court

Thomas Cashman will spend decades behind bars for the murder of Liverpool schoolgirl Olivia Pratt-Korbel after he was handed a life sentence at Manchester Crown Court this afternoon.

The 34-year-old shot nine-year-old Olivia dead as he chased convicted drug dealer Joseph Nee into her home in on August 22 last year. Olivia's mother, 46-year-old Cheryl Korbel, was also injured in the incident, which took place in the Dovecot area of Liverpool.

After a 19-day trial, Cashman was found guilty of murder and wounding with intent. The jury also found him guilty of the attempted murder of Nee and two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

READ MORE: Thomas Cashman sentencing live updates as Olivia Pratt-Korbel murderer to be jailed

Mrs Justice Yip said Cashman's attack of Nee was an 'attempted, planned execution attempt'. She sentenced Cashman to a life sentence with a minimum of 42 years.

The judge said: "For the murder of Olivia there is only once sentence that can be passed. That is of mandatory life imprisonment." She said a life order is not merited because the planning and premeditation was not directed at the child but Joseph Nee.

However, she warned Cashman that he may "spend the rest of his days in prison", telling the court that his release would be a matter for the parole board.

The murderer was sentenced in his absence after he refused to appear in the dock. John Cooper KC, representing Cashman, said the defendant did not attend the hearing as he was aware that the CPS were singing 'We are the Champions' following the verdict in his trial last week.

Mr Cooper told the court: “He has been spoken to and been given certain advice but he is concerned that the matter is turning into a