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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Hollie Bone & Abigail Nicholson

Thomas Cashman imitates shooting gun at Queen waxwork in Facebook picture

The man found guilty of murdering Olivia Pratt-Korbel was pictured imitating shooting a gun at the late Queen's waxwork years earlier.

Today (Thursday, March 30) Cashman, 34, formerly of of Grenadier Drive in West Derby, was unanimously convicted of murdering a nine-year-old girl in her own home. Cashman was also found guilty of attempting to murder 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 jury's verdict was delivered after nine hours and three minutes of deliberations. The ECHO can now reveal a picture from Cashman's public Facebook profile which shows him imitating shooting a gun at the late Queen Elizabeth II's waxwork.

READ MORE: Updates after Thomas Cashman found guilty

The sinister picture shows Cashman smiling as he looks towards to wax figure. Manchester Crown Court previously heard during a three-and-a-half-week trial that Cashman "lay in wait" for 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.

David McLachlan KC, prosecuting, described how Cashman had "murder on his mind" and stood over the helpless man and attempted to discharge the firearm again as he begged: "Please don't. Don't lad".

Cheryl, 46, alarmed by the gunfire outside, had stepped out of her house to investigation but quickly rushed back indoors when she saw Nee running towards her and away from Cashman - who was dressed all in black and had his face covered. She then tussled with the gunman's intended target in an attempt to keep her front door shut and to keep him out of the property, but was unable to fully close it as it had been left on the latch in order to allow the neighbours to let themselves in for a cup of tea.

The assailant fired another shot with a second, backup weapon - a 0.3 caliber revolver - at this point. This was the shot which claimed Olivia's life, the bullet passing through the door and travelling through the mother's hand before striking Olivia in the chest.

The schoolgirl had been upstairs in bed, but was heard to say "mummy, I'm scared" as she ran to the bottom of the stairs to her mum having been startled by the commotion. 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 scooped up by the first police officer to arrive at the scene and rushed to Alder Hey Children's Hospital after being critically injured, but was pronounced dead shortly before 11.30pm

Cashman with be sentenced on Monday, April 3.

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