Olivia Pratt-Korbel murder trial hears gunman ‘garden-hopped’ to flee scene as accused denies being shooter
The man accused of murdering Olivia Pratt-Korbel has denied being a gunman pictured on CCTV, after a court heard the shooter responsible for her death likely “garden-hopped” to escape.
Thomas Cashman, 34, is alleged to have been the gunman responsible for the murder at the nine-year-old‘s home in Dovecot, Liverpool, on 22 August last year.
Her mother, Cheryl Korbel, 46, was injured in the shooting as a gunman chased convicted burglar Joseph Nee into their home.
The attacker fired through the front door of the Korbel family home just after 10pm after chasing Nee through the street – with the bullet hitting Ms Korbel in the hand before fatally wounding Olivia in the chest, a murder trial at Manchester Crown Court has heard.
On Wednesday, the jury in the trial was shown Cashman’s movements on the day of the shooting, and heard evidence about how the aftermath unfolded.
The nine-year-old was killed in her home on 22 August last year
Trial told gunman ‘garden-hopped’ to escape scene
A man alleged to be Cashman followed Nee to a property on Finch Lane in the Dovecot area, the prosecution told the court.
The man walked along Finch Lane at about 9.20pm and then was not seen on cameras again for more than half an hour.
Police investigator Caleb Suggitt told the third day of the trial: “The person alleged to be Thomas Cashman stood somewhere within the area, not seen, for 36 minutes 56 seconds.”
CCTV showed Nee and a friend leaving the house on Finch Lane just before 10pm.
Mr Suggitt added: “The person alleged to be Thomas Cashman runs across Finch Lane onto Kingsheath Avenue after Joseph Nee.”
Two loud bangs could be heard on CCTV footage.
Nee could be seen on the floor in front of the shooter before a third bang was heard.
Nee then ran towards the Korbel family home and was chased by his attacker, who fired through the front door.
The bullet hit Ms Korbel in the hand and fatally wounded Olivia in the chest.
Cheryl Korbel, mother of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel, arrives at Manchester Crown Court for the trial of Thomas Cashman
After the shooting, the gunman was next seen on Finch Lane at 10.02pm when he ran between two houses through an entry, the court was told.
Mr Suggitt said: “That person runs from Finch Lane onto Berryford Road and then we see that person on Standedge Way.
“We don’t see that person return from Standedge Way, nor do we see them enter Berryford Road, therefore we know that person has garden-hopped from Standedge Way to Princess Drive.”
At 10.06pm the man, dressed in black with reflective markings on his trousers, walked across Princess Drive.
Mr Suggitt said he was not seen again after crossing the road.
Read more on this story:
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Court hears CCTV evidence against Cashman
Earlier, jurors were taken through a timeline of Cashman’s movements before the shooting.
CCTV footage played in the courtroom showed Cashman driving a white Citroen Berlingo van away from his home on Grenadier Drive in West Derby just after 3pm.
He was filmed driving past Finch Lane in Dovecot where a Volkswagen Transporter van, belonging to Nee, was parked.
It then showed Cashman driving to his sister’s home in Mab Lane where he stayed for around six minutes before returning to his car and driving past Finch Lane again, where Nee’s van was still parked outside the property of a friend.
Cashman then drove back to his sister’s, but the court was told that he left the Finch Lane house and drove away just after 3.30pm.
CCTV of Cashman leaving his sister’s house at 3.36pm on foot was also shown to the court.
Just before 4pm, footage showed Cashman walking a few steps onto Finch Lane, before turning around and going back in the direction he came.
Opening the case on Tuesday, David McLachlan KC, prosecuting, told the court that Cashman had been returning to where Nee’s van was parked on foot to shoot him but did an “about turn” after seeing the road, where Nee’s van was no longer parked.
The jury was also shown CCTV of Nee in a Screwfix store in Aintree at 4.13pm.
Cashman denies charges
Cashman, of West Derby, Liverpool, denies the murder of Olivia, the attempted murder of Nee, and the wounding with intent of Olivia’s mother.
He also denies two counts of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life.
The court also heard Cashman denies being the gunman shown on CCTV.
On Monday, 12 jurors were selected for the trial, which is expected to last around four weeks
UK
‘Major incident’ declared in Northern Ireland as wildfire breaks out amid higher-than-normal temperatures
A major incident has been declared in Northern Ireland after a wildfire broke out, the latest in a series of blazes seen across the UK over the past week amid soaring temperatures.
More than 100 firefighters and 14 fire appliances were at the scene of the “significant” wildfire on Sandbank Road, Hilltown, Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service said.
The fire had a front of approximately two miles “including a large area of forestry close to property”, the service said.
The wildfire on Sandbank Road, Hilltown. Pic: Sky Watch NI
“Local residents are requested to avoid the area, a number of roads have been closed, to help support firefighting operations,” the fire service added.
“We ask that all members of the public remain particularly vigilant to the risk of fire at this time. We can reassure members of the public that normal service delivery is being maintained.”
More than 100 firefighters were at the scene of the fire. Pic: Sky Watch NI
Various fires erupted across England this week amid uncharacteristically warm and dry conditions for the time of year.
On Saturday, helicopters were deployed to tackle Scotland’s fourth wildfire this week, with police saying a blaze “which started in the Newton Stewart area has spread northwards and is expected to reach the Loch Doon area of East Ayrshire around 12am on Sunday”.
Police Scotland added: “As a precautionary measure members of the public are asked to avoid the Loch Doon area and anyone who may be camping in the area is advised to leave.”
Moors Valley Country Park blackened by fires this week
Elsewhere in England, Devon and Cornwall Police said they were assisting the fire service with temporary road closures on the A30 in the Bolventor area as they tackle “a number of fires” on moorland.
In Dorset, Moors Valley Country Park was forced to close after multiple wildfires broke out there on Wednesday.
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Wildfires spread across nature reserve
Separate incidents were then reported at Upton Heath in Poole on Wednesday, and nearby Canford Heath in the early hours of Thursday.
Friday was officially the warmest day of the year so far – with temperatures in the south of England reaching 23C (73.4F) – the highest since 21 September last year, according to the Met Office.
The weather conditions triggered a “severe” wildfire rating for parts of the UK on Tuesday.
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