The family of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel had their emotional impact statements read aloud in court before Thomas Cashman was sentenced to life in prison for her murder.
They said “justice had prevailed” after 34-year-old Cashman, was given a life sentence for the murder of Olivia, serving a minimum term of 42 years.
Cheryl Korbel, Olivia’s mother, said that her grandmother (Olivia’s great-grandmother) had been admitted to hospital recently and was brought home for end-of-life care a few weeks ago.
She told the court she “held out long enough to hear that coward had been found guilty” but died on Sunday night – the day before the sentencing.
Speaking outside court in Manchester, Louise Pratt, Olivia’s aunt, said they are “happy” with the outcome of the sentencing, but will “not be celebrating” as “nothing will fill the gap left in our lives by the loss of Olivia”.
Speaking on behalf of her brother and Olivia’s father, John Pratt, she said she hoped Cashman was “haunted” by the knowledge that “Olivia died a scared nine-year-old girl” for the rest of his life.
Also speaking outside court, Olivia’s mother, Ms Korbel, said “justice had prevailed” but that her and her family had “started our life sentence of having to live without Olivia”.
She said her daughter “had amazing qualities and knew what she wanted in life”.
Thomas Cashman sentencing – live: Cashman refuses to attend over ‘CPS singing’
Cashman was sentenced for the murder of Olivia, attempted murder of convicted drug dealer Joseph Nee – the intended target of the incident, intent to do grievous bodily harm to Olivia’s mother, and two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.
During the sentencing, statements written by Ms Korbel, Mr Pratt, and Olivia’s older teenage sister Chloe Korbel, were either read in court by them, or on their behalf.
The emotive words of the family were not heard by Cashman, who did not attend his own sentencing. Judge Mrs Justice Yip said that Cashman has shown no remorse and that his failure to appear in court was further evidence of that.
‘I felt helpless’
Taking a teddy which was made from her daughter’s pyjamas into the witness box, Ms Korbel described her daughter as her “little shadow,” adding that she would “give anything in the world to have her chatting to me”.
“I was not able to do CPR because of my injury… I felt helpless,” she said, referring to her being shot in the wrist during the incident.
“My worst nightmare was being separated from Liv and not being with her when she needed me the most.”
‘I am heartbroken’
In a statement read aloud on behalf of Mr Pratt, he said that he has nightmares about how his daughter died, and cannot bring himself to go into the cemetery where she is buried.
“I am heartbroken. Sometimes I just want to end it so that I can be with Olivia again,” the statement said.
“I want to visit Olivia, and I sometimes sit outside the cemetery but I can’t go in because if I do it’ll all seem too real.”
Ms Korbel and Mr Pratt both said Cashman had robbed their daughter of her future, where she will never be able to wear a wedding dress or have a 16th birthday party.
Read more:
Mother ‘ecstatic’ as man found guilty of murdering nine-year-old
Moral codes ‘have gone out the window’, says ex-gangster
Olivia Pratt-Korbel’s brother recalls shooting at trial
‘I lost my best friend’
Reading a statement from the witness box, Olivia’s sister described her as the “best friend I had always wanted”.
She said: “Not only did I lose my baby sister, but I lost my best friend. When I was told she had passed away I felt as though my heart stopped beating.
“I miss my baby sister, and I miss my best friend, all the things we should be doing, shopping together, laughing together and making memories.”
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Speaking on behalf of Cashman about his decision to not attend his sentencing, defence lawyer John Cooper KC said the decision was made because Cashman was aware that the CPS were singing We Are The Champions following the verdict in his trial.
“He has been spoken to and been given certain advice but he is concerned that the matter is turning into a circus,” Mr Cooper said.
