Cheryl Korbel has shared how a pink teddy bear she carried into court is made out of her daughter's pyjamas.
Cheryl, 46, mum of murdered Olivia Pratt-Korbel, was seen clutching the teddy bear to her chest as she arrived at Manchester Crown Court for the sentencing of Thomas Cashman. Cashman, 34, formerly of Grenadier Drive, West Derby, earlier arrived at the court building surrounded by armed police to be sentenced.
However, it has since been confirmed he will not appear in the courtroom this afternoon and will be sentenced in his absence. Justice Amanda Yip, who presided over his trial, will be required to set a minimum term which the 34-year-old must serve behind bars before he is considered eligible for release.
READ MORE: Thomas Cashman sentencing updates as Olivia Pratt-Korbel killer to be jailed
Olivia's mum Cheryl placed the bear, which she said now sleeps in her bed, on the witness box as she read out a victim personal impact statement. She began by describing the moment Olivia was born prematurely at Whiston Hospital, weighing just over 4lbs.
She said: “She was so tiny she fit in one hand. From a tiny little bundle, she grew into a toddler.
“Every time we went out, we were stopped by everyone saying how beautiful she was. Ryan and Chloe adored her, she was their baby sister.
“She slept in my room until she was one, then moved into the big room with Chloe. Liv would wake up of a night.
“Often by the time I got to her, Chloe was up and soothing her. She was like a second mother. The years passed too quick, and Liv started nursery.
"She was loved by everyone. She loved to play. Princesses and Cinderella were her favourite. She would dress her dog Gizmo in a blanket and push him round the house in a pram.
“I couldn’t believe my baby was going into big school. She loved helping others.”
Cheryl became tearful as she described how Olivia had a "special bond with one of her teachers" and how she was "such a social butterfly." She said: "She was particularly good with younger children. She was such a caring little girl.
“Liv had long beautiful brown hair, something she was very proud and particular about. A few weeks before she was taken from us, she had heard about the Princess Trust.
“She decided she wanted to donate 12 inches of her hair, in her words for the sick kids to have beautiful wigs. Liv was due to have her hair cut on August 27.”
Cheryl said: “Liv was a girly girl who loved to play with makeup and shoes with heels on. She had her own style and would wear what she wanted to wear, even though often it didn’t match.
“As Ryan and Chloe got older and began doing their own things, it began to become mostly me and her. We were always together.
“Each evening was different with Liv. One night we would be watching Matilda, the next night she would sneak up to Ryan’s room while he was out so she could watch YouTube on her iPad.
“Liv never stopped talking. She would be chatting away. One thing I miss most is hearing her say ‘mum’, I just miss hearing her voice.
“It’s just so quiet. I would do anything to have her chatting to me. It’s so lonely without her. Everything is so quiet. I can’t cope with the silence.
“Setting my alarm at 7.30 in the morning is something ingrained in me. The day goes by in a blur. It gets to half 2 and I think about the school pickup, something I will never do again.
“She will always be my baby. Teatime is a big thing for me. It was so centred around her and what she wanted for tea. Everything I do is a constant reminder she is not there with me.
“This happened in our home where we should have been safe. We have no choice to leave Liv’s first and only home.
“When were allowed back it was utter heartbreak. It was as though time had stood still. The cups of tea on the table next to her Princess Trust form. One of her dolls lay on the floor.
“In that moment, I was home. We were back to how our lives were before that night. I soaked up the surroundings until reality dawned and brought me back to our living nightmare.”
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Child killer, hitman, drug dealer - How the dark truth about Thomas Cashman was exposed
Man who helped Thomas Cashman as he sought to cover up Olivia's murder
Olivia Pratt-Korbel: the little girl at the heart of heartbreaking murder trial
