Olivia Pratt-Korbel was killed on August 22
(Picture: Family handout)Two men arrested in connection with the murder of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel have been released pending further inquiries, Merseyside Police said.
The men, aged 18 and 37, who both come from the West Derby area of Liverpool, were arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender and have been freed on police bail.
The older man was taken into custody on Friday night while the teenager was one of two people arrested on Thursday during police inquiries into the fatal shooting which took place on August 22.
Olivia was shot by a masked gunman who had chased a man into her home in a suspected botched gangland hit in Liverpool last month. Nobody has yet been charged.
Nine people have been arrested in connection with the murder.
A police statement read: “The investigation into Olivia’s murder is ongoing and we continue to appeal for people with information to come forward to assist us in bringing those responsible to justice.”
Olivia’s funeral is due to take place on Thursday.
Her family have asked mourners to wear a “splash of pink” at the service.
In a video appeal her mother said those responsible for her death know that they have done wrong and “need to own up”.
Cheryl Korbel, 46, paid tribute to her “little shadow” in the video, which was filmed and released by Merseyside police.
Ms Korbel said she hoped whoever was responsible for the killing would come forward: “You know you’ve done wrong, so you need to own up. Like I taught my kids, you do something wrong, you own up to it. If anyone is hiding these guns they need to speak up because they need to be off the streets. No one, no one at all should have to go through this.”
Wearing a cast on her wrist after being injured during the shooting, Korbel said the family had been planning days out and a trip to buy Olivia’s new school uniform before she died.
“I didn’t get that chance to go and get her school uniform. But I’ll keep going, for Liv,” she said.
Ms Korbel broke down in tears as she described how her daughter would never stop talking, adding: “That’s what I miss the most, because I can’t hear her talk.”
