Dancing and twirling her long hair around in the air, nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel is captured smiling and joking on camera in cherished home video footage released by her grieving family as her killer starts a life sentence for murder.
The nine year-old's infectious giggle shines through as she uses a vacuum cleaner to suck her hair into a pony tail amid fits of laughter. In another short clip, she dances and struts across the floor of her living room, laughing as she ends in an exaggerated pose.
Olivia's family released the clip as evil Thomas Cashman, 34, today starts a minimum jail sentence of 42 years after he was found guilty by a jury of her murder.
Manchester Crown Court heard on Monday, in a moving victim impact statement read aloud by her mother Cheryl Korbel, of how generous Olivia had been planning on donating 12 inches of her hair to the Princess Trust to help sick children.
Cashman, formerly of Grenadier Drive, West Derby, fatally shot Olivia and injured her mum as he chased down convicted criminal Joseph Nee into Olivia's family home on Kingsheath Avenue, Dovecot, reports the Liverpool Echo.
The cowardly child killer refused to return to the dock to learn his fate. Justice Amanda Yip described his actions as "disrespectful to the family of the deceased"
In the videos, Olivia is dancing, singing and laughing in her living room. The family previously paid tribute to the "unique, chatty, nosey little girl who broke the mould when she was born".
The ECHO wrote last week how Cheryl's memories of her "sassy diva" who followed her everywhere are now our memories - and they will never be forgotten. We know she loved dressing up and doing her makeup and nails. She also loved playing tricks on her siblings Ryan and Chloe.
Her family previously said: "She loved life and all it had to offer. Liv was adored by everyone who knew her and would instantly make friends with anyone and everyone...Although her life was short, her personality wasn't and she lived it to the most she could, and would blow people away with her wit and kindness."
Sentencing Cashman, Justice Amanda Yip said: "The killing of Olivia Pratt-Korbel is an offence that shocked not only the city of Liverpool, but the nation. Olivia’s name is likely to be remembered for many years.
"She should not be remembered only for her dreadful last moments. Her family have spoken today of Olivia in life and of the hopes and dreams for her future, which were so cruelly snatched away.
"It is plain that Olivia was a lovely little girl, who cared for others and brightened the lives of her family and friends. They have suffered an unimaginable loss which they must carry for the rest of their lives."
Olivia's dad John Pratt said the family "have been robbed of her future and the amazing teenager and adult she was destined to become". Cheryl told reporters outside the court: "We have already started our life sentence having to spend the rest of our lives without Olivia."
Cheryl said: "My nine-year-old Liv was the light of our lives, our beautiful, sassy, chatty girl who never ran out of energy, she was a character, she was my baby, she had amazing qualities and knew what she wanted in life."
She added: "Now I have to drive to the cemetery to be close to my baby daughter, I sit with her and talk to her telling her I miss her smile, her kisses. her cuddles, her voice. I tell her she will live on in my heart, she will always be with us, my little shadow. We love you endless amounts Liv."
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