Thomas Cashman's trial over the murder of Olivia Pratt-Korbel was moved out of Liverpool due to the "shock and emotion" felt in Merseyside over her fatal shooting.
The 34-year-old killer, of Grenadier Drive in West Derby, was today found guilty of murdering the schoolgirl at her home on Kingsheath Avenue in Dovecot on the evening of August 22 last year. The nine-year-old was shot in the chest as the gunman pursued his intended target, Joseph Nee, through the streets.
It can now be revealed that his case was moved from Liverpool Crown Court to Manchester Crown Square Crown Court due to concerns raised by his legal team, who claimed that reporting of Olivia's death meant he may not receive a fair trial in his home city. Nigel Power KC, who represented Cashman at a previous hearing in December last year, argued the case should move venue.
He referred to comments from former Liverpool FC captain Steven Gerrard, the club’s manager Jurgen Klopp, the city’s metro-mayor Steve Rotheram and a priest in the wake of her killing as police urged people to come forward with information. Mr Power said: “Of course it’s good to have a sense of community and pride in your city.
"We’re not saying otherwise. But we say the effect of all this reporting personalises Liverpool, as much as Olivia herself, as the victim.”
Mr Power also said there had been reports on social media that Cashman had attempted suicide in prison and had been attacked by another prisoner. He added: “They’re just not true, these things just haven’t happened.”
In her ruling, Justice Amanda Yip said she was not criticising any party for what was said and done in the aftermath of Olivia’s murder, but she said it was likely “shock and emotion” had been felt more keenly on Merseyside and the circumstances could lead a fair-minded, informed observer to conclude there was a real risk of one or more of the jury being predisposed to finding guilt in the case.
Manchester Crown Court previously heard during a three-and-a-half-week trial that Cashman "lay in wait" for Joseph Nee while armed with two loaded guns as his intended target watched a Liverpool FC v Manchester United football match on the television at his friend Timmy Naylor's house on Finch Lane. When he left the address with another man, Paul Abraham, the gunman approached them from behind and opened fire three times with a self-loading pistol.
Nee was shot in the midriff at this point and stumbled to the floor as a result of his injuries. David McLachlan KC, prosecuting, described how Cashman then stood over the helpless man and attempted to discharge the firearm again as he begged: "Please don't, don't lad"."
But the gun malfunctioned, and Nee was able to escape. Cashman however continued his "ruthless pursuit" as he fled towards the Korbel family home.
Cheryl then tussled with Nee in an attempt to keep her front door shut and to keep him out of the property, but the assailant fired another shot with a second gun - a revolver - at this point. This bullet passed through the door and travelled through the mother's hand before striking Olivia in the chest.
Olivia had been upstairs in bed, but was heard to say "mum, I'm scared" as she ran to the bottom of the stairs to her mum having been startled by the gunfire outside. With Nee by now inside, Cashman then forced his arm around the door and fired one final shot which became lodged in the doorframe.
Olivia was rushed to Alder Hey Children's Hospital after being critically injured, but was pronounced dead shortly before 11.30pm. Nee meanwhile was bundled into a car by his associates and taken to Whiston Hospital, later being transferred to Aintree Hospital.
Cashman escaped the scene of the shooting by leaping through back gardens before making his way to the home of a woman with whom he had previously had an affair. She was woken by him standing at her bedside before she phoned her boyfriend Paul Russell, who then arrived at the house.
The witness - who cannot be named for legal reasons - reported hearing Cashman make an apparent confession to her partner at the doorstep, telling him "I've done Joey". He was then given a change of clothing before being driven back to his Citroen Berlingo van, which he had earlier parked on Aspes Road, by Russell.
A pair of Under Armour tracksuit bottoms which he was handed at this time were later found at his sister's home on Mab Lane with his DNA and traces of gunpowder residue on them. The attacker was identified to have worn distinctive Monterrain trackies which matched a pair owned by Cashman.
He had been observed on CCTV making a number of trips past Finch Lane on the day in question. This included an apparent attempt to carry out the shooting at around 4pm that afternoon having spotted Nee's van outside, but this was thwarted after the then 35-year-old left to visit Screwfix.
Cashman however claimed in his evidence that he had no involvement in the shooting and was counting £10,000 in cash and "smoking a spliff" at his friend Craig Byrne's house on Snowberry Road at the time. He had admitted being a "high level" drug dealer who made up to £5,000 per week selling cannabis, and his various trips around the area throughout the day were apparently concerned with his involvement in the supply of the class B substance.
Meanwhile, Cashman accused the woman with whom he had had the fling of attempting to frame him for the murder as she was a "woman scorned". He suggested that her boyfriend Paul Russell owed him a £25,000 debt and questioned whether she had been motivated by the possibility of reward money.
The defendant also stated he had "no problems" with the Nee family and counted them as friends. The father-of-two said on the witness box: "I'm not a killer, I'm a dad."
Cashman was also convicted of attempting to murder Nee, wounding with intent against Cheryl Korbel and two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. He will be sentenced on Monday next week.
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