Olivia Pratt-Korbel's killer has been sentenced to life in prison - although he wasn't there in person to hear it.
Thomas Cashman was found guilty of gunning down the nine-year-old schoolgirl in her own home in Dovecot, Liverpool, on the evening of August 22 last year.
The killing shocked Merseyside and the country and was the third such killing in the region in that week.
In an emotional statement today, Olivia’s family told how she died “a scared nine-year-old”.
The horrific incident took place after the 34-year-old chased convicted burglar Joseph Nee, 36, into the family’s home.
But today Cashman refused to appear in person to be sentenced, or to hear the heartbroken family’s witness statements.
The killer showed “no remorse” and denied the killing throughout the trial at Manchester Crown Court.
But he claimed to have become “concerned” that the trial was being turned “into a circus” after he became aware that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) sang the classic Queen hit ‘We are the Champions’ after his guilty verdict was passed.
Cashman claimed this was why he refused to return to the court, despite reportedly being in the same building.
Defence barrister John Cooper KC told the court Cashman had refused to attend today's hearing following the verdict in his trial.
Mr Cooper told the court that when the incident was raised with the officials, they claimed they were "entitled to".
Mr Cooper told the judge: “He [Cashman] has been spoken to and been given certain advice but he is concerned that the matter is turning into a circus.”
Mrs Justice Yip said she regarded his lack of attendance as “disrespectful” to not only the court but those interested in proceedings, including the family of the deceased.
She told the court that Cashman would be sentenced in his absence.
As well as missing his sentencing, Cashman missed an emotional statement read out by Olivia’s mum Cheryl where she held onto a teddy bear made out of Olivia's pyjamas.
She told the court: “I cannot get my head around how Cashman continued to shoot after hearing the terrifying screams.
“The utter devastation he has caused. He doesn’t care, how could he?”
Following the sentencing, in a second statement made outside of court, Cheryl said that the family’s life sentence had only just begun.
The 46-year-old said: "She was my baby, she had amazing qualities and knew what she wanted in life.
"Everyone adored her. She was the baby of our family … justice has prevailed and I cannot begin to express our relief.
“We welcome the sentence given but what I can say is that my family and I have already started our life sentence having to spend the rest of our lives without Olivia.”
Sentencing Cashman, Mrs Justice Yip said: “The defendant has not acknowledged his responsibility for Olivia’s death and so has demonstrated no remorse.
“His failure to come into court is further evidence of that.”
She said Cashman “relentlessly pursued” his target, Joseph Nee, into Olivia’s home, where the schoolgirl had left her bed after hearing the commotion.
The judge said: “She came downstairs to seek the comfort of her mother. Her last words were, ‘Mum, I’m scared’.
“In a terrible twist of fate she had stepped directly into the line of fire.”
