LAST UPDATE | 3 Oct 2022

THE MAN ACCUSED of the murder of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel has been remanded in custody.

Thomas Cashman, 34, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court this afternoon after his case was sent from the magistrates’ court in the morning.

Olivia was fatally shot by a gunman who chased convicted burglar Joseph Nee into her home in Dovecot on 22 August.

Her mother, Cheryl Korbel, was injured in the shooting, which happened just after 10pm.

Cashman, of Grenadier Drive, West Derby, is charged with Olivia’s murder and with the attempted murders of Korbel and Nee, as well as two counts of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life.

The defendant, wearing a grey T-shirt and handcuffs and flanked by police officers in the dock, looked at the ground throughout most of the 15-minute hearing.

Korbel was in court for the hearing, along with Olivia’s father, John Francis Pratt, a number of police officers and more than 20 members of the media.

Thomas Keaney, representing Cashman, made no application for bail.

A provisional trial date was set for 6 March next year, with a plea and trial preparation hearing to take place on 10 January.

David McLachlan KC, prosecuting, said the trial is expected to last four weeks.

Judge Neil Flewitt KC said Cashman will appear at the next hearing via video-link.

He told him: “In the meantime you must remain in custody.”

Earlier in the day, Paul Russell appeared at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court charged with assisting an offender.

Russell, 40, of Snowberry Road, West Derby, is alleged to have assisted Cashman by driving him away from the scene and disposing of clothing, the court heard.

No application for bail was made and he was remanded in custody to appear at Liverpool Crown Court on 31 October.