Mum of murdered Olivia 'working' for Christmas as she remains wracked with grief

23 December 2023 , 07:27

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Cheryl Korbel, the mother of murdered nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel (Image: Julian Hamilton/Sunday Mirror)

As Olivia Pratt Korbel's cowardly killer spends Christmas behind bars, her grieving mum says knowing he "can't ruin anyone else's lives" gives her just a small sense of comfort.

It will also be the first time that the murderers of innocent Ashley Dale and Elle Edwards spend the festive period locked up, after a horrific year of gun crime across Merseyside in 2022. Olivia, nine, was shot dead in her own home by Thomas Cashman, last August. Cashman, now 35, is serving a 42-year life sentence after chasing fellow drug dealer, Joseph Nee, through her front door in Liverpool, Merseyside.

Cheryl told the Mirror: "It gives me a small bit of comfort that they are behind bars and they can't ruin anyone else's life." Still wracked with grief following the loss of Olivia, the mum has decided to work Christmas Day.

Instead, Cheryl celebrated the festivities earlier this month by transforming her daughter's memorial garden into a Santa's Grotto for the local children. An incredible turnout of 200 kids, including Olivia's schoolmates came along to share their happy memories of the youngster.

They also attended a carol service and wrote messages to Olivia on baubles which were hung on a pine tree known as "Olivia's tree" on the small patch of land by her old home in Dovecot. Cheryl said: "I really didn't think there was going to be that many people there. They were just astounded with how good it was.

"I was up and down the queue speaking to the kids. There was couple of them that said [Liv] would have loved it. It was hard seeing so many kids there, I could just see Liv running round with them."

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Olivia Pratt-Korbel in an undated photo (PA)

Olivia Pratt-Korbel who was killed by Thomas Cashman (PA)

Cowardly Cashman refused to face Olivia's family at his court sentencing, robbing them of the opportunity to tell him how much he had destroyed their lives. He has also submitted multiple applications to appeal his conviction and sentence, still proclaiming his innocence.

Despite this heartache, Cheryl has since successfully campaigned for a new law, meaning defendants who refuse to show up to their sentencing face an additional two years on their jail term.

Cashman refused to face Olivia's family at his court sentencing (PA)

Cheryl said: "As much as he wants to shout from the rooftops about his appeal, we'll always shout louder. My baby hasn't got a voice so we are her voice now." Cheryl added that she cannot thank Merseyside Police enough for the work they did to bring Cashman to justice, whilst also working on the cases of Ashley Dale and Elle Edwards.

But despite knowing the streets are safer with their killers behind bars, she adds: "It shouldn't have taken three people's lives for the world to realise we have a serious problem with gun crime."

Hollie Bone