The man accused of shooting Olivia Pratt-Korbel while chasing another man told a jury he was "friends" with the "intended target" Joseph Nee.
Dad-of-two Thomas Cashman, 34, spoke in court for the first time today as the defence started its case, telling the jury he had even visited Mr Nee's mum's house the day before the shooting, on August 22 last year. Cashman accepted he was a "high level" cannabis dealer selling to "people he knew" in the local area.
Olivia, nine, died when a gunman fired a shot which passed through the front door of her family home on Kingsheath Avenue, Dovecot, then hit her mum, Cheryl Korbel, in the hand before striking her in the chest. The gunman had initially opened fire on Mr Nee as he walked on the street outside with another man, Paul Abraham.
READ MORE: Thomas Cashman murder trial resumes as man accused of shooting schoolgirl Olivia Pratt-Korbel
Nee was shot twice but managed to run towards the Korbel family home and barged inside while fleeing for his life. Cashman denies being the gunman or any involvement in Olivia's death.
Today Cashman, wearing a blue knitted jumper over a white shirt, was called to give evidence by his defence counsel, Professor John Cooper, KC. The softly spoken 34-year-old, who was asked to keep his voice up several times, described his upbringing in Huyton and told the jury he was earning "£3,000 to £5,000 per week" selling kilo quantities of cannabis by the time of the shooting.
He said he had started smoking cannabis "every day" by the time he was 16, and then progressed to dealing as he got to around 18. Mr Cooper questioned his client over his relationship with the Nee family and whether he had ever had any problems with them.
Cashman replied: "No, I never had problems with the Nee family ever. They’ve always been my friends." He added he had "grown up" around them and had been friends with the family for around 10 years.
Mr Cooper asked what he would talk to them about. Cashman replied: "Mostly cars and bikes and things like that. They liked motorbikes and cars and I have motorbikes and cars...
"I’d see them a lot like yeah. I know where his mum’s house is. I know where a couple of the brothers live. The day before I was at his mother’s house with the brothers. With Joseph and Jamie as well.
Mr Cooper asked whether Joseph Nee spent a lot of time at his brother's house. Cashman said: “From what I knew, he was always local yeah. They always lived on Dovecot, they’re always local yeah.....If I was driving round and I’d see them, I’d always stop and speak to them."
Mr Cooper asked about the time he spent with the Nees the day before the shooting. Cashman said: "Jamie Nee just got a brand new Audi RS6. They were talking about his new car that he’s just got." Mr Cooper asked: "Was it friendly?"
Cashman said: “Course, yeah", and added there were "no problems whatsoever".
Mr Cooper asked: “When you parted company on August 21, 2022, how were things between you?
Cashman replied: “All good, same as every time we see each other.”
Mr Cooper told Cashman the prosecution will accuse him of making several journeys with the intention of "scoping out" Joseph Nee ahead of shooting him, and asked: "What do you say about that?".
Cashman replied: "It is untrue."
Earlier the jury heard a series of agreed facts - pieces of evidence that are not disputed - stating that Mr Nee and his immediate family "had their enemies" at the time of the shooting, and that convicted drug dealer Nee had been shot at before. However prosecutor David McLachlan, KC, said the Crown were not alleging that Cashman was responsible for that shooting, which occurred in March, 2018.
As well as denying Olivia's murder, Cashman denies the attempted murder of Nee, as well as wounding Cheryl Korbel with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm. He also pleaded not guilty to two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, namely a 9mm calibre self-loading pistol and a 0.3 calibre revolver.
The trial continues.
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