Olivia Pratt-Korbel's killer loses bid to have murder sentence dropped

The killer of an innocent girl has had his appeal to appeal his murder sentence denied.

Thomas Cashman was handed the 42-year minimum prison term for shooting nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel dead in her home last year.

Cashman, now 35, fired a bullet blindly through the front door of her Dovecot home on August 22, killing the schoolgirl.

He was found guilty of murdering the schoolgirl after a trial at Manchester Crown Court in March.

A previous application for permission to challenge his minimum jail term was rejected by a judge without a hearing earlier this year.

However Cashman's legal team lodged a fresh application with the hearing taking place at the Court of Appeal in London this morning (Wednesday, November 15) in front of judges Dame Victoria Sharp, Mrs Justice McGowan and Mr Justice Chamberlain.

The self-confessed drug dealer opened fire on Joseph Nee, a fellow dealer who was walking along the road, in a planned ambush.

Horrifying footage played to the jury shows the moment Cashman opened fire with a self-loading Glock style handgun as Nee dropped to the ground.

Cashman stood over him, appearing ready to finish him off before the gun malfunctioned.

This gave Nee enough time to scramble to his feet and flee - just as Olivia's mum Cheryl Korbel opened her front door at the sound of the loud bangs. 

Nee saw the opportunity to barge inside as Cheryl desperately tried to keep the door closed.

Olivia, frightened by the bangs, got out of bed and ran down the stairs, where she hid behind her mum shouting "Mum, I'm scared". Cashman, however, gave chase to Nee and pulled out a back-up gun, a .38 calibre revolver, which he fired through the front door.

The bullet passed through Cheryl's wrist and struck Olivia in the chest.

Cashman was convicted of Olivia's murder, the attempted murder of Joseph Nee, wounding Cheryl Korbel with intent, and possessing two firearms with intent to endanger life.

After Cashman was found guilty, he added to the Korbel family's distress by refusing to leave his cell for his sentence hearing, which proceeded in his absence. The trial judge, Mrs Justice Yip, said: "The killing of Olivia Pratt-Korbel is an offence that shocked not only the city of Liverpool but the nation. Olivia’s name is likely to be remembered for many years.

"She should not be remembered only for her dreadful last moments. Her family have spoken today of Olivia in life and of the hopes and dreams for her future, which were so cruelly snatched away."

During the hearing today, John Cooper, KC, defending cashman, told the judge how he 'was not aiming' at the youngster but instead through the door. 

“He did not know this child was standing at the bottom of the stairs when he did the appalling act of firing that gun through the front door," he said.

“I am aware that the court do not take kindly to a simple comparison of the facts to other cases.”

As she denied the appeal request, Dame Sharp said: “The sentence imposed by the judge was a long one, it means the applicant will be well into his seventies before being considered for his release.

“The length of the sentence reflects the terribleness of his crimes rather than any error on the part of the judge. There were no mitigating factors, there was no remorse. Permission to appeal is refused."

After the hearing, a court official and a lawyer representing Cashman said an appeal against conviction had been lodged.

They said the application had yet to be considered by a judge and no appeal hearing date had been fixed.