The sister of Olivia Pratt-Korbell told the court she lost her "baby sister" and "best friend" the night Thomas Cashman fired bullets into her home indiscriminately.
Yesterday, Cashman was sentenced to a minimum 42 years in prison after the nine-year-old was shot in the chest in her house in Liverpool last August.
Cashman, 34, refused to face Olivia's family in court to her how his senseless violence tore their family apart.
Olivia's sister Chloe described the night of August 22 as the "worst day of my life".
The 18-year-old told the court: "The 22nd of August 2022 was the worst day of my life, the day my Olivia was taken away from us. Not only did I lose my baby sister, but I lost my best friend.
"When I was told that she passed away I felt as though my heart had stopped beating. A piece of me was left with her that night and since then I have felt as though I’m in a nightmare that I cannot wake up from.
"My family and I are living a real-life tragedy and there’s nothing we can do to change it. This is all because of certain selfish people feeling that it is okay to carry guns and fire them whilst putting innocent people at risk of getting hurt or losing their life.
"This happens, it's reality and my little Olivia is proof of that. I miss Olivia, I miss my baby sister and I miss my best friend.
"I grieve for what we will never get to do together. I miss sharing my bedroom with her and hearing her talk all of the time. All the things we should be doing or would be doing as she got older, confiding in one another, shopping together, laughing and making memories.
"I am beyond grateful to have had nine years of Olivia and I will keep those memories of us and her forever."
Her statement continued as she described Olivia as the "best present I had ever received".
Chloe said: "In October 2012 my mum found out that she was pregnant and that started my journey to being a big sister. A few weeks later she discovered she was having a girl.
"Our precious little Olivia was born on 13th June 2013 which was five days after my birthday. It was the best present I had ever received. I knew that I would always protect and look after her, I just loved her so much.
"Olivia was the best friend I had always wanted. We were so close as I was not only her big sister, but I looked after her when my mum was working.
"I would collect her from school and go on days out with her at the weekends. When Olivia was old enough to sleep in a bed, we shared a bedroom.
"As she grew, she soon began to notice all of my clothes and makeup and jewellery. She would take them and wear them and if I couldn’t find something I didn’t need to look very far - Olivia clearly believed what was mine was also hers.
"I would often look for something and not be able to find it, Olivia would tell me she didn’t have it but then it would turn up the following day in her makeup bag or one of her drawers. I remember she once went to school wearing my Pandora bracelet on her wrist.
"Her teacher told her that she shouldn’t have it with her as it was too expensive to have in school and it was also too big for her little wrists. When she came home from school, mum and I noticed something dangling from the buckle on her school shoe- my pandora bracelet.
"She had put it on there to keep it safe with it being too big for her wrist - she was such a clever girl and definitely older than her years."
Cashman was found guilty last week of murdering the nine-year-old and wounding with intent of Cheryl, 46, as he chased convicted drug dealer Joseph Nee into their home in the Dovecot area of Liverpool on August 22 last year.
Gasps were heard from the public gallery as the sentence was announced and Cheryl and other members of Olivia's family were seen crying.
Speaking outside court after the sentencing, Cheryl said: “The jury returned a verdict of guilty, which has confirmed our belief that Cashman murdered our beautiful Olivia.
“Olivia was just beautiful with her long brown hair and big brown eyes.
"She was such a social butterfly, she was particularly good with younger children and was such a caring little girl."
Mrs Justice Yip said Olivia's family had suffered an "unimaginable loss" and praised the "bravery and strength" of Cheryl.
Cashman also received life imprisonment with a minimum term of 22 years for the attempted murder of drug dealer Joseph Nee.
For wounding Olivia's mum Cheryl Korbel with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, he received 10 years.
The killer was also charged with two firearms offences, for which he received 18 years.
The sentences are to be served concurrently, meaning Cashman will serve a minimum of 42 years - less the 182 days spent on remand - before he is considered for release by a parole board.
