Olivia Pratt-Korbel’s mum’s heartbreaking words to her murdered daughter at her funeral

THE grief-stricken mum of murdered nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel has vowed her daughter "will never be forgotten" as she was laid to rest at her funeral today.

Mourners donned "splashes of pink" in honour of the tragic child who painted her nails the same colour on her first day of school.

Innocent Olivia was shot dead in cold blood after a gunman chased convicted burglar Joseph Nee into her home in Dovecot, Liverpool, on August 22.

He open fired, with a bullet passing through Olivia's mum's wrist before striking the tot in her body - fatally wounding her.

As Olivia lay dying on the floor, callous friends of the injured man then arrived, carried him to their black Audi and took him to hospital — without bothering to check on the family.

She was rushed to hospital but declared dead later that night.

Her funeral began at 11am in St Margaret Mary's Catholic Church in Knotty Ash, next door to Olivia's school, St Margaret Mary's Catholic Junior School.

Olivia's broken mum Cheryl Korbel was spotted talking with friends and family as they filed into the church behind her daughter's coffin.

During a eulogy inside the church, Cheryl led a heartrending tribute to her little girl.

She said: "Liv touched so many people's hearts and was loved and adored by everyone.

"She will never be forgotten.

"I will never say goodbye but what I will say is goodnight, love you, see you in the morning."

In his homily, Archbishop Malcolm McMahon said: "In St Paul's words let us comfort one another with words of faith - faith in each other, faith in God...

"And faith in the belief that Olivia's untimely death will lead to a community here in Liverpool without violence, that it will become a place of peace and justice."

People lined the street as Olivia Pratt-Korbel's coffin arrived at the church in a horse-drawn carriage.

The white casket, with butterflies on the side, was topped with lilies.

Unicorn and teddy bear shaped floral tributes were placed alongside it in the white carriage.

A hearse with floral tributes saying "daughter" and "Liv" arrived at the church shortly before the carriage.

Mourners, many with pink ribbons pinned to their outfits, were in tears as the cortege arrived.

The order of service included a poignant poem called "My Little Angel" accompanied by a photo of Olivia.

And the congregation sung 'Amazing Grace' before Olivia's service drew to a close and she went on her final journey to a private burial.

Mourners were heard applauding as the cortege left the church.

'DADDY'S GIRL'

Olivia's dad, John Francis Pratt, left a tear-jerking flower tribute in the shape of a heart.

The bouquet featured a touching photo of the pair and a ribbon that read 'Daddy's Girl' - it is amongst a huge pile of floral tributes laid by well-wishers at the church.

On Thursday, her young classmates - who did not have to attend - wore pink to school and painted their nails the same colour.

Headteacher Mrs Wilkinson explained: "One of the amazing memories that the class teacher and children shared was one day Olivia came to school wearing pink nail varnish.

"And she spent the whole day hiding her hands so that I wouldn't see the fact she was wearing pink nail varnish."

Paying tribute to the tragic nine-year-old, she added: "I will remember the big bright smile that used to enter my room.

"She entered my room and my room lit up. She was just a little breathe of fresh air and radiated happiness. And that is what I will miss about Olivia, the smile."

Pink hearts were also spotted in the windows of the school while ribbons hang from the fence.

Over 480 pieces of art - one from each child - made up a memorial for much-loved Olivia.

And pupils watched the little girl's favourite film; an adaptation of Roald Dahl's classic 'Matilda'.

ARRESTS

Merseyside Police have made nine arrests since the girl's killing, but no-one has yet been charged with her murder.

Cops have this week been searching at West Derby Golf Club for the two guns used in the attack.

It comes as Tory peer Lord Ashcroft has offered a massive £50,000 reward for information leading to the gunman's arrest.

The reward follows a heart-breaking appeal issued by Olivia's mum Cheryl Korbel to find her daughter's killer - telling them "you know you have done wrong".

With her hand wrapped in a bandage from the night she lost her daughter, Cheryl told Merseyside Police: "She was amazing, she loved life. She was my little shadow. She went everywhere with me.

"She didn't like school because she had to do work but she loved it because she was with all her friends.

"Everyone that she met they all fell in love with her.

"She left a mark on everyone that she met and she may well have only been nine but she packed a lot in them nine years.

"She never, ever stopped talking. And that is what I miss the most, because I can't hear her talk.

"I am hoping that they come forward so this doesn't happen to anybody else.

"You know you have done wrong so you need to own up like I have taught my kids. You do something wrong, you own up to it."

Crying through the pain, Cheryl demanded that anyone "hiding the guns" that killed Olivia needs to "speak up".

"Because they need to be off these streets, no one, no one at all, should have to go through this", Cheryl added.

Anyone with information can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or crimestoppers-uk.org.