Witness who had ‘fling’ with man accused of murdering Olivia Pratt-Korbel denies lying about him to police
A witness who had a “fling” with the man accused of killing nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel has denied lying about him to police.
The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, became involved in heated exchanges with the lawyer defending Thomas Cashman at the start of the second week of his trial at Manchester Crown Court.
Cashman, 34, is accused of murdering Olivia and injuring her mother, Cheryl Korbel, 46, at their home in Dovecot, Liverpool, on 22 August 2022.
He is alleged to have been chasing another man, Joseph Nee, into Olivia’s home and firing his gun, missing Nee and hitting the mother and daughter.
Cheryl Korbel was injured in the shooting
The female witness implicated Cashman by telling police after the shooting that he had gone to her home where he changed his clothes, the jury was told last week.
The woman, who was sat in the witness box with a curtain shielding her from public view, also claimed she heard Cashman say he had “done Joey”, the court has been told.
John Cooper KC, defending, suggested to the witness that Cashman had used her for sex and this had made her tell lies to police to “ruin” him.
He said: “Central to your dishonest evidence in this court is you with Thomas Cashman.
“Made you want to ruin him?”
She replied: “No. Ruin him… you find out what you find out.
“I have had to do what I have had to do for a little girl here. I have had to go through a lot of pain, to think about what Tommy done.”
Mr Cooper continued: “About the time of this tragic killing, you were angry, resentful and vindictive.”
“I was not,” she replied.
“I certainly didn’t want a relationship with a thug with a little willy.”
She added: “I have not been asked one question about a nine-year-old girl who lost her life. That little girl can’t go home, so I’m passionate about that.
“Let’s get to the good bits. Why not ask about the shooting?”
Mr Cooper replied: “Good bits? Because we say you are a liar.”
Read more from the Olivia Pratt-Korbel trial
Brother recounts moment gunman tried to force his way into family home
Jurors in murder trial told not to be influenced by their emotions
The witness said she had not initially told police about having a “fling” with Cashman because she was “petrified”.
She said: “I have not got family. I was petrified. Absolutely petrified.
“Thomas Cashman has done what he’s done and he can’t own it, love.”
At one point during the exchanges, the judge Mrs Justice Yip asked the witness to look at her, to take a moment and to calm down.
Cashman, of Grenadier Drive, Liverpool, denies the murder of Olivia, the attempted murder of Nee, wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm to Ms Korbel, and two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.
The trial continues.
A woman who was stabbed to death in north London has been named by police – as a man was arrested on suspicion of murder.
Pamela Munro, 45, was found with a stab wound and died at the scene in Ayley Croft, Enfield, on Saturday evening, the Metropolitan Police said.
A 29-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder on Monday and is in custody, the force added.
Detective Chief Inspector Neil John said: “Investigating officers have worked relentlessly across the weekend to investigate the circumstances around Pamela’s death.
“We continue to support her family who are understandably devastated.”
Police at the scene at Ayley Croft in Enfield
Read more from Sky News:
Fresh appeal over student’s murder
100 firefighters battle flats blaze
The Met Police has asked anyone with information or who was driving through Ayley Court between 6.30pm and 7.30pm on Saturday and may have dashcam footage to contact the force.
A “British man” has died after being beaten and set on fire by a mob in Ecuador, according to reports by media in the South American country.
According to reports, the man – who has not been officially identified – had been detained by police after being accused of being involved in a fatal shooting.
Ecuadorian news outlet Ecuavisa reported that the man had been taken to a police station Playas del Cuyabeno, a remote village in the Amazon rainforest.
While there, a group broke into the station and took the man away. He was then set on fire in the street, it is reported, and died from his burns.
The incident reportedly happened in the Playas del Cuyabeno area of Sucumbios province
Another local report, from EXTRA.ec, said that specialist police units had been slow to arrive due to the geographical conditions of the area – which is accessible by river.
Read more from Sky News:
IDF finds ‘failings’ over attack on aid workers
Pope blesses Easter crowds from popemobile
According to reports, police officers at the station apparently decided they could not intervene when the mob arrived out of concerns for their own safety.
It is understood the UK Foreign Office is following up reports about the incident and working with local authorities to confirm the details.
-
Sports2 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports1 year agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business3 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway