The killer of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel has been jailed for a minimum term of 42 years.
Thomas Cashman (34) refused to appear in the dock to be sentenced to life imprisonment at Manchester Crown Court on Monday after a jury found him guilty last week of murdering the schoolgirl in her home in Dovecot, Liverpool, on August 22nd last year.
Olivia’s mother Cheryl Korbel (46) took a teddy made from her daughter’s pyjamas into the witness box with her as she told the court: “I cannot get my head around how Cashman continued to shoot after hearing the terrified screams and utter devastation he had caused.
“He doesn’t care. His actions have left the biggest hole in our lives.
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“That man set out to do a job and he didn’t care about anyone else or who got in the way. He certainly couldn’t own it either.”
John Cooper KC, defending, told the court Cashman did not want to attend because he felt the matter was “turning into a circus”.
Mrs Justice Yip said she would sentence the defendant in his absence, adding: “I have made it clear that I do regard it as being disrespectful.”
The trial, which lasted almost four weeks, heard Cashman had been “scoping out” intended target Joseph Nee, a convicted drug dealer, on the day of Olivia’s death.
The jury was told he lay in wait for Nee on Kingsheath Avenue, armed with two guns, and then chased him, firing three shots in the street, when Nee left a house shortly before 10pm.
Nee ran towards the open door of Olivia’s home after her mother went out to see what the noise was, the court heard.
The bullet which killed Olivia was fired through the front door, hitting the wrist of Ms Korbel, who was trying to hold the door shut, before striking Olivia in the chest.
A woman who had an affair with Cashman told the jury he came to her house after the shooting, where he changed his clothes and she heard him say he had “done Joey”.
During his evidence, Cashman admitted being a “high-level” cannabis dealer.
But the father of two told the court: “I’m not a killer, I’m a dad.”
The jury took more than nine hours to find Cashman guilty of Olivia’s murder, the attempted murder of Nee, the wounding with intent of Ms Korbel and two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.
Olivia’s aunt, Louise Pratt spoke on behalf of the family outside the Manchester crown court alongside Olivia’s dad, John.
“We are happy with the outcome but we will not be celebrating as nothing will fill the gap left in our lives following the loss of Olivia,” she said, thanking the jury, police who assisted with the investigation and the anonymous witness who provided evidence.
“Olivia Pratt-Korbel died a scared nine-year-old and we hope Cashman is haunted by this knowledge for the rest of his life,” she said.
Meanwhile, sources close to the British justice secretary Dominic Raab said Cashman should not be allowed to “hide” by refusing to come to court to be sentenced.
Mr Raab, who is also the British deputy prime minister, previously vowed to consider changing the law to force criminals to attend court or pay the price for their actions if they do not.
A ministry of justice source told the PA news agency: “Olivia Pratt-Korbel and her family weren’t able to hide from Thomas Cashman’s crime – so he shouldn’t be able to hide from justice.
“This is exactly why the Deputy Prime Minister is committed to changing the law so that offenders are forced to face the consequences of their actions.”
By law, defendants are allowed to choose not to attend their sentencing hearing – prompting recent outrage from campaigners, who say this denies victims and their families the chance to see justice being served.
Labour’s shadow justice secretary Steve Reed said: “It’s an absolute scandal that the Tory government has stood by while killers, rapists and terrorists pick and choose whether they turn up to face justice.” –PA/The Guardian