Olivia Pratt-Korbel's mum walked out of court as Thomas Cashman told his murder trial "I did not kill a little girl."
Cheryl Korbel was seen leaving the courtroom as the prosecution's cross-examination of the 34-year-old defendant, of Grenadier Drive in West Derby, drew to a close this afternoon, Thursday. He was shown CCTV footage of the shooting on Kingsheath Avenue in Dovecot on August 22 last year by David McLachlan KC, prosecuting.
Cashman looked down at the television screen in front of him before being asked "that's you, isn't it?". He responded: "No, it's not me - Joseph Nee's even put it in his statement.
READ MORE: Thomas Cashman murder trial resumes as man accused of shooting Olivia Pratt-Korbel gives evidence
Justice Amanda Yip stopped him at this piece. The judge said: "He didn’t ask a question about what somebody else said."
Mr McLachlan continued: "You’re not prepared to own this because you killed a little girl."
Cashman replied: "I did not kill a little girl. Is my DNA anywhere on the house on Kingsheath Avenue?
"Could you tell the jury that please? If my DNA was there, you’d tell the jury.
"Joseph Nee’s give a name in of the suspect who did it - is this person’s DNA on the door of the house? You can’t answer that."
Olivia's mother then walked out of the courtroom, before a short break was called.
Manchester Crown Court heard during the prosecution's opening earlier this month that an armed man had been "relentlessly pursuing" Joseph Nee shortly before 10pm on August 22, 2022 after approaching him and a man called Paul Abraham from behind and firing shots at his "target" with a 9mm self-loading pistol.
Nee - who had been watching the Liverpool v Manchester United game with friends including Paul Abraham at a house on Finch Lane in Dovecot - was struck in the midriff and fell to the ground, but may have been saved when the gun appeared to "malfunction" as the gunman stood over him.
He was then able to scramble to his feet and ran towards the Korbel family home on Kingsheath Avenue, where he barged through the partially open front door. The assailant, however, had a second firearm - a revolver - and continued to give chase, firing a further two shots with this weapon.
One of these shots passed through the door, struck Olivia's mum Cheryl Korbel in the hand then fatally hit the youngster in the chest. The other bullet became lodged in the doorframe.
Cashman denies murdering Olivia Pratt-Korbel, the attempted murder of Joseph Nee, wounding with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm against Cheryl Korbel and two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. The trial continues.
READ NEXT: Thomas Cashman denies ditching 'missing' Monterrain tracksuit bottoms
Thomas Cashman claims he was 'smoking spliff and counting £10,000 cash' when Olivia shot
Thomas Cashman in tears as he tells murder trial 'I'm not a killer, I'm a dad'
Thomas Cashman says he was 'high level' drug dealer earning £5,000 per week
