07 March 2023 , 22:41
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A suspect in the shooting of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel gave officers a five-word reply after his arrest.
Thomas Cashman is currently standing trial charged with murdering the nine-year-old after she was shot dead inside her own home on Kingsheath Avenue in Dovecot.
It was heard in court that the 34-year-old told police "youse are stitching me up" and protested that he was an "innocent man" after he was arrested on suspicion of Olivia's murder.
A bullet fired by a gunman who was allegedly "relentless pursuing" a man called Joseph Nee - described as "the real target" - travelled through the front door of the house, hit her mum Cheryl in the hand then struck the schoolgirl in the chest on the evening of August 22 last year.
Manchester Crown Square Crown Court heard on Tuesday that, two days after the fatal shooting, Cashman and his partner Kayleeanne Sweeney travelled from Liverpool to Runcorn in her Land Rover Discovery. They arrived at an apartment at the Decks in the Cheshire town shortly after 11pm on August 24, with the defendant seen on CCTV holding a bag and pulling a small suitcase as he "put himself out of the way", the hearing was told.
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Olivia Pratt-Korbel, nine, was fatally shot by a gunman who allegedly chased a convicted burglar into her home in Dovecot on August 22 (PA)
Olivia Pratt-Korbel, nine, was shot dead inside her home after convicted burglar Joseph Nee was allegedly chased into her family's property in Dovecot (PA)David McLachlan KC, prosecuting, described how he would later be arrested at this address in the early hours of September 4. Armed police detained Cashman, who, the court heard, replied after being handcuffed: "You stupid c***s, youse are stitching me up for whatever it is - what's it for?
"What have I done? Go on."
When Cashman was informed he was being arrested on suspicion of murder, the hearing heard he responded: "What are youse on about, murder? I haven't committed no offence what youse are talking about, youse are mad."
A court artist sketch of Thomas Cashman appearing in the dock at Liverpool Magistrates' Court (Elizabeth Cook/PA Wire)Once taken into custody, the court heard he continued: "That's a load of bulls***. Everything that said is a load of s*** and I've done nothing, it's nothing to do with me."
The Liverpool Echo reports that, under interview, Cashman told detectives: "Well, I’m doing a prepared statement here. What I’d like to say is I’ve got no involvement at all in any of these crimes that you’re putting forward towards me, nothing whatsoever.
"I live in the area, brought up in the area - whatever the reasons, I’ve been round the area, but I haven’t committed no offence. Got no problem with any of the people you’ve just mentioned, and for the rest of the tape I’m going no comment.
Olivia's mum Cheryl Korbel and other family members arrive at Manchester Crown court for the trial of Thomas Cashman (Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)"But I’m just stating clear that I have got no involvement in any of the crimes that youse are putting forward to me in any whatsoever, nothing to do with me. So for the rest of this tape, I am going no comment."
The court heard he then responded with no comment to all further questions. Cashman was arrested for a second time on the evening of September 29 in Liverpool city centre, responding: "It wasn't me, like I said before - you've got an innocent man."
The hearing heard that, again, he did not reply to questions asked of him during a second set of interviews. Cashman denies murdering Olivia, the attempted murder of Nee, wounding with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm against Cheryl Korbel and two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and the trial continues.