LOVER SHOPPED KILLER
Olivia Pratt-Korbel’s hitman murderer Thomas Cashman convicted thanks to bravery of ex-lover sickened by his crime
A GANGLAND hitman who murdered schoolgirl Olivia Pratt-Korbel was convicted thanks to the bravery of an ex-lover sickened by his crime.
She gave vital evidence against Thomas Cashman, 34, after he shot dead Olivia, nine, during a bungled attempt to kill a rival drug dealer in Dovecot, Liverpool, last August.
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After a jury at Manchester crown court found Cashman guilty of murder, Det Supt Mark Baker praised the woman, who will go into a witness protection programme.
He said: “She has stood up for what is right — justice.”
Police yesterday hailed the woman's “incredible bravery”.
The woman was so disgusted with Cashman’s crime she told cops: “There is no such thing as a grass when it involves a nine-year-old.”
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Following the verdict, Olivia’s mum Cheryl Korbel, 46, cried tears of relief and said she was “ecstatic”.
The witness - who cannot be named — reported Cashman to police and spent two days being cross-examined in court by his barrister.
She will now be placed in a witness protection programme while Cashman faces life in prison.
The hitman fired three shots at Joseph Nee on August 22 last year in a street in Dovecot, Liverpool.
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But when Nee ran into Olivia’s house after the gun jammed, Cashman used a second weapon to fire blindly round the front door.
Olivia was hit twice as she stood terrified on the stairs in her pyjamas.
Cashman fled to his former lover’s house — where she lay sleeping — woke her and demanded a change of clothes.
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She later told cops she heard him tell a man who arrived at her home “I’ve done Joey”.
Merseyside Police hailed her as a hero.
Det Supt Mark Baker said: “Without witnesses there is no justice.
“The key witness in this case has demonstrated incredible bravery.
“She has stood up for what is right — justice.
“Her evidence was powerful and emotional.
“Most importantly she spoke the truth.
“She should be proud of herself knowing that her testimony has helped to bring the killer of a nine-year-old child to justice.
“I hope her courage encourages people to do the right thing in future investigations.”
During tense exchanges at Manchester Crown Court, Cashman’s barrister repeatedly suggested the witness was telling lies because she was angry he had refused to leave his childhood sweetheart for her after they had sex three times.
But she countered: “If he was any sort of man he’d just f***ing own it.
“I can’t believe he’s making the family go through what they are going through.”
As well as being convicted of murder Cashman was found guilty of attempting to murder Nee, wounding Cheryl and two firearms charges.
After the jury of ten men and two women delivered their murder verdict, mum-of-three Cheryl left court and held a pink teddy aloft in memory of her daughter.
In stark contrast, Cashman’s partner Kayleanne Sweeney and his family ranted in the court building and claimed he was the victim of a “stitch up”, while Cashman bowed his head and cried in the courtroom.
After he was convicted, Merseyside Police released a mugshot of Cashman, snarling menacingly at the camera as he was first arrested.
Cashman was paid up to £100,000 to kill Nee, 36.
Graphic CCTV evidence shown to the jury caught the moment Cashman sneaked up behind Nee and pal Paul Abraham as they walked home after watching Manchester United beat Liverpool 2-1 on TV at a friend’s house.
Armed with a Glock pistol and a revolver, Cashman fired three shots at Nee, who collapsed on the ground.
The hitman then stood over Nee to finish him off as he begged for his life.
But the Glock jammed, giving Nee the chance to run towards Olivia’s front door — which her mum Cheryl had opened after hearing noises outside.
Cheryl desperately tried to shut the door, but injured Nee got inside the house — and Cashman reached his arm around the door firing blind twice.
Olivia, who had got up from bed said “Mum, I’m scared” after hearing the first gunshots.
She was on the stairs behind her mum — who was also shot — when she was hit in the chest.
Cashman ran off through back gardens before arriving at a property belonging to his ex-lover.
Cashman then used three cars and a push bike to get back to his rented £350,000 detached home a few miles away in West Derby.
Two days later — after removing all CCTV and disconnecting electricity at his home — Cashman and Kayleanne went to stay at a block of flats in Runcorn, Cheshire, where he was arrested by armed cops on September 4.
Dramatic bodycam footage shows Cashman raging as he was being handcuffed, saying: “You stupid c****, youse are stitching me up for whatever it is, what’s it for? What have I done, go on?”
When he was told he was being arrested on suspicion of murder, he said: "Youse are mad."
After being told the circumstances of his arrest, he said: “That's a load of b******t.
“It's nothing to do with me."
After the key witness came forward, Cashman was re-arrested in Liverpool on September 29 and charged with Olivia’s murder on October 1.
While giving evidence, Cashman claimed to have been friends with Nee and denied shooting Olivia.
He said: “I'm getting blamed for killing a child and I have got my own children.
“I’m a dad, I'm not a killer.”
Cashman told the jury he was smoking a spliff and counting £10,000 cash of drug money at a friend’s house when Olivia was killed.
During the trial, it was alleged that Nee was shot as part of a feud between two families.
There was also an attempt on Nee’s life two weeks before Olivia was killed which involved the same Glock, the court heard.
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The jury was also told it was agreed that Nee had many enemies.
Cashman, who was brought to court from HMP Strangeways under an armed police escort, will be sentenced on Monday.
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