The intended target of the man who murdered nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel has been released from prison nine months after her death, it was revealed today.
Joseph Nee was on release from prison when he was chased into Olivia's home on Kingsheath Avenue, Dovecot, and shot at by Thomas Cashman on August 22 last year. Nee was recalled to prison for breaching the conditions of his licence in relation to a 45 month sentence for burglary and dangerous driving.
Now it's been revealed that Nee, 36, has been released from prison after serving the remainder of his sentence. It comes just six weeks after Thomas Cashman, 34, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 42 years for the murder of Olivia.
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Cashman was also found guilty of attempting to murder Nee, wounding with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm against Olivia's mum, Cheryl Korbel, and two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.
The trial in March heard how Nee "had his enemies" and had been shot at on three occasions including on the night of Olivia's murder, reports The Echo.
Nee was shot at in March 2018 by an unknown assailant. On August 8, two weeks before Olivia’s death, a gunman fired at him using the same Glock he was shot with on the night of August 22nd. Merseyside Police said they have not ruled Cashman out of being the shooter on that occasion, although he has not been charged.
As a younger man, Nee was involved in a notorious criminal group that flooded the streets of Kensington with crack and heroin. According to ECHO reports from 2009, Nee was a “trusted foot-soldier” in an organisation that was “dripping in materialism”, spending the money on luxury flats, plasma screen TVs, high-end cars and wardrobes full of designer gear.
The gang was led by known hardman Brian “Big Show” Siner, who received a 14 year sentence at Liverpool Crown Court.
Nee, then 23, was sentenced to six and a half years in prison for drug supply offences. He was jailed for a year in 2011 for perverting the course of justice in relation to a gang of violent burglars, including his brother, Jason Nee, which threatened victims in their own home with weapons.
In 2018, Nee was jailed again for 45 months for burglary and dangerous driving after leading Cheshire Police on a high speed chase.
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