UK
Paul Russell sentenced to 22 months for helping Olivia Pratt-Korbel’s killer Thomas Cashman
A man has been sentenced to 22 months in prison for assisting Thomas Cashman, the gunman who murdered nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel.
Paul Russell, 41, pleaded guilty after driving Cashman back to his van following the killing and disposing of a bag of his clothes.
The judge gave Russell credit for going to police to name Cashman when he realised Olivia had been shot dead.
He claimed he didn’t know the girl had been killed when he helped him on the night of the shooting.
Russell is set to spend only a few months in jail when the time he’s spent on remand is taken into account, as well as the fact most offenders are eligible for release at the half-way point.
Olivia’s father replied “joke” when the sentenced was announced and judge Mrs Justice Yip conceded that many would think the sentence “very lenient”.
Cashman fled the scene after Olivia’s murder, hopping over back gardens, before turning up at the house of woman he’d had a relationship with – who was now Russell’s girlfriend.
Olivia was killed as Cashman chased and fired at another man last August
She called Russell when Cashman turned up, and Olivia’s murderer is said to have demanded to be driven back to his Citroen van on Aspes Road.
Russell did so – and also took a bag of Cashman’s clothes to another address nearby, where friends of the killer lived.
He later told police he was “terrified” of Cashman, prosecutors said, and the day after the murder he’s said to have warned Russell: “Don’t say nothing.”
Liverpool Crown Court also heard police had issued him with a “threat to life” notice once he was charged with assisting Cashman – and he’s set to be given a new identity when he’s released.
Thomas Cashman was convicted of Olivia’s murder
Cashman was sentenced to a minimum of 42 years earlier this month after being found guilty of the murder in Liverpool last August.
He could have his sentence increased after complaints from members of the public that it was too lenient.
The attorney general’s office has until 1 May, 28 days after Cashman’s sentencing, to decide whether to refer the complaint to the Court of Appeal.
Judges there could upgrade his sentence to a whole life order, meaning he will die behind bars.
Cashman was also found guilty of wounding with intent of Olivia’s mother, Cheryl Korbel. Cashman got 10 years for attacking Ms Korbel.
A jury also found him guilty of the attempted murder of Joseph Nee, a convicted drug dealer who he had chased into Olivia’s home before opening fire.