Olivia’s killer rejects appeal bid as lawyers seek jury inquest

The man who killed nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel has had his final attempt to appeal his murder conviction rejected.

Thomas Cashman shot through the front door of Olivia’s family home in Liverpool while chasing a drug dealer on August 22, 2022.

The bullet passed through the wrist of Olivia’s mother, Cheryl Korbel, before killing the schoolgirl.

Cashman’s legal team asked London’s Court of Appeal to order an investigation into the allegation that the jury was given information that was not part of the evidence presented at his trial.

John Cooper KC, representing Cashman, had applied for an extension of time to apply for leave to appeal his conviction.

He said allegations were made that the jury was given documents relating to co-defendant Paul Russell, who was not involved in the shooting but later helped Cashman by giving him clothes and giving him a ride in his car.

When the trial began, Russell had already pleaded guilty to assisting an offender, which jurors were not told about for fear of details that would damage the case.

Mr Cooper said: “The allegation is so serious it would be wrong not to launch an investigation.

“If such serious allegations are made, it is in the public interest for them to be proven or eliminated.”

But the panel of judges said the claim was passed “from someone, to someone, to someone” before reaching Cashman.

During the hearing, Ms. Korbel listened to the hearing via video link.

Mr Cooper also told the court there were suggestions that jurors were given a panic alarm by police without the defense team’s knowledge.

He told the panel of judges he did not want Cashman’s conviction to be thrown out based on the allegations alone, but he urged the court to get more information.

But David McLachlan KC, representing the Crown Prosecution Service, told the court there was “no evidence” of “jury impropriety”.

The court dismissed the application, with Lord Justice Holroyde stating that the reasons for the decision would be published in writing at a later date.

Cashman was convicted at Manchester Crown Court in April 2023 of the murder of Olivia, the attempted murder of Joseph Nee, whom he chased home, the willful wounding of Ms Korbel and related firearms charges.

he was sentenced to life imprisonment The minimum maturity is 42 years.