Olivia Pratt-Korbel’s killer has conviction appeal bid rejected

The gunman who murdered nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel has had a bid to situation his condemnation dismissed astatine the Court of Appeal.

Olivia died aft a slug fired by Thomas Cashman deed her arsenic helium chased a cause trader who had tried to tally into her location successful Knotty Ash, Liverpool, successful August 2022.

Cashman was sentenced to beingness with a minimum word of 42 years successful April 2023, with the Court of Appeal throwing retired a bid to situation his condemnation past November.

On Wednesday, barristers for Cashman, present 36, told the aforesaid tribunal that it should bid investigations into claims that jurors were provided with panic alarms by constabulary and allegations that grounds was fixed to them during their deliberations which had not been presented astatine trial.

But 3 elder judges dismissed the entreaty bid, with Lord Justice Holroyde stating: “The effect, of course, is that Mr Cashman remains convicted arsenic before.”

Cashman’s proceedings astatine Manchester Crown Court heard that Olivia was changeable portion helium was chasing convicted cause trader Joseph Nee, who tried to tally into the schoolgirl’s location successful a bid to escape.

Cashman, antecedently of Grenadier Drive, West Derby, Liverpool, opened fire, hitting Olivia’s mother, Cheryl Korbel, successful the wrist arsenic she tried to support the doorway unopen against Nee, with the aforesaid slug sidesplitting her daughter.

Giving evidence, helium admitted being a “high-level” cannabis dealer, but told the jury: “I’m not a killer, I’m a dad.”

But the proceedings heard that aft fleeing the country of Olivia’s murder, Cashman went to the location of a woman.

The woman, who has been fixed beingness anonymity, told the tribunal helium had changed his apparel and she heard him accidental helium had “done Joey”.

Jurors aboriginal recovered Cashman blameworthy of Olivia’s murder, the attempted execution of Nee, the wounding with intent of Ms Korbel, and 2 counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

Cashman, who did not be his sentencing, besides did not be Wednesday’s hearing, but Ms Korbel was contiguous via video link.

His barrister, John Cooper KC, told the proceeding successful London that an allegation had been made that jurors were fixed panic alarms by constabulary astatine immoderate signifier during the trial, but that nary grounds was disposable to enactment the claim.

A further allegation was made that documents relating to the grounds of Paul Russell, who had already pleaded blameworthy to assisting Cashman pursuing the execution and aboriginal received a 22-month situation term, were fixed to the assemblage during its deliberations contempt not being presented astatine trial.

Mr Cooper said: “The allegation is of specified seriousness that it would beryllium incorrect for an probe not to beryllium ordered.”

He continued: “We are conscionable asking for an investigation. We are not asking for a resolution.

“It is successful the nationalist involvement that if allegations of specified a superior quality are made, they are substantiated oregon enactment to bed.”

The Crown Prosecution Service opposed the entreaty bid, with its barrister, David McLachlan KC, telling the tribunal determination was “simply nary evidence” of a “jury irregularity”.

Lord Justice Holroyde, sitting with Sir Stephen Irwin and Mr Justice Hilliard, said that afloat written reasons for their determination would beryllium published astatine a aboriginal date.