Real footage of the police hunt for the gunman who killed little Olivia Pratt-Korbel will air as part of a true crime documentary.
The nine-year-old died last August when drug dealer Thomas Cashman fired a shot into her Liverpool home during what was described as a “ruthless pursuit” of a rival gang member.
Last month, evil Cashman, 34, was sentenced to a life term with a minimum of 42 years for Olivia’s murder.
And now footage of the search for him will feature in a Channel 4 series following Merseyside’s Major Crime Unit as it investigates a number of high-profile gun murders in the city.
A source said: “Channel 4 were filming with Merseyside Police last year when Olivia was killed on her doorstep and they had full access during their hunt for Cashman.”
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The programme is being made by Liverpool-based LA Productions, behind many of Cracker screenwriter Jimmy McGovern’s dramas – such as Broken, starring Sean Bean.
The TV source added: “It’s all very raw and will make for heartbreaking viewing.”
A record reward of up to £200,000 had been offered during the month-long manhunt to catch Cashman, who had 18 previous convictions. His intended target was 35-year-old convicted drug dealer Joseph Nee, the trial at Manchester crown court heard. Nee forced his way into Olivia’s home in the city’s Dovecot, area as he fled his attacker.
A shot Cashman fired at the front door went through the wrist of Olivia’s mum, Cheryl Pratt-Korbel, and into the girl’s chest. Cheryl, 46, moved out of the home after being haunted by the memory of Olivia’s murder.
The horror came in a seven-day period in which Liverpool was rocked by two other fatal shootings – followed by yet more killings in October and December.
Cheryl is calling for a new law, backed by Labour Leader Keir Starmer, forcing killers to show up in court after Cash-man refused to appear for sentencing. And she last month told us of a plan for a memorial garden to Olivia as she said: “I want violence to stop.”
Channel 4 said: “LA Productions/Channel 4 have been filming with Merseyside Police since 2021 for an observational documentary series that will feature a range of cases.
“We’re not in a position to talk about any specific cases as they are ongoing and some are not resolved.”