Olivia Pratt-Korbel's brother storms out of court as getaway driver is jailed
Olivia Pratt-Korbel's heartbroken brother stormed out of court today as a getaway driver who helped her killer flee after her murder was jailed.
Paul Russell, 41, was sentenced to 22 months in prison after admitting assisting Thomas Cashman following the murder of the nine-year-old, who was shot in her home in Dovecot, Liverpool, last August.
Russell gave killer Thomas Cashman a lift from the home of Russell's partner, where the ruthless gunman had fled to after shooting Olivia dead.
He also passed on incriminating clothes Cashman, 34, had worn during the shooting, to another accomplice who has not been identified.
But he will be free inside six months after the judge took into account the time spent on remand - and will be given a new identity upon his release.
Final words of Olivia, 9, before being shot as mum cried 'stay with me baby'
News on his much shorter sentence on Wednesday left members of Olivia's family in tears - while Olivia's sibling stormed out when he heard the sentence may be suspended - which the judge ultimately refused due to the 'seriousness' of the crime.
Paul Russell, 40, was today sentenced to 22 months in prison
Olivia Pratt Korbel died last year after being gunned down in her own home (PA)He pleaded guilty to assisting an offender at a hearing in October last year, was “terrified” of Cashman and was not aware he had killed the schoolgirl when he helped him.
The 41-year-old met police in the days after Olivia’s death and told them the man responsible was "Tommy Cashman”, the sentencing hearing was told.
His guilty plea could not be reported until after the trial of Cashman, who was found guilty of the schoolgirl’s murder last month.
Russell admitted driving Cashman from an address in the aftermath of Olivia’s shooting when the gunman chased convicted drug dealer Joseph Nee into the family home in Kingsheath Avenue, firing through the door and also injuring her mother, Cheryl Korbel.
He was a get-away driver for killer Thomas Cashman, 34, who will serve a minimum of 42 years for her murder (PA)
Family member stormed out of court as he was jailed (Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)The defendant, wearing a black suit and white shirt, appeared via videolink from a remote location for the hearing, which was attended by members of Olivia’s family.
Henry Riding, prosecuting, said: “Mr Russell not only admitted what he had done to assist Mr Cashman in the course of police interviews, he also named Mr Cashman in the course of the very first police interview.”
Senior investigating officer Detective Superintendent Mark Baker said: “The nation was rightly horrified by the murder of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel as a consequence of the reckless actions of Thomas Cashman on that night.
“Assisting someone to escape justice when they have committed any crime is to be condemned but particularly so when an innocent child is the victim.
Floral tributes on Kingsheath Avenue, where the girl was gunned down (Liverpool Echo)“Thankfully Russell saw fit to hand himself in when he realised the enormity of what Cashman had done and that Olivia had been killed.
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"His guilty plea at least saves Olivia’s family the agony of sitting through another trial and having once again to relive that horrific night.
“Cashman will spend at least 42 years behind bars after being convicted of Olivia’s murder. As a consequence of what he did Russell will now also spend a period of time behind bars where I hope that he will be able to reflect on his actions on that night.”
Russell, who was also in a relationship with the woman, drove the killer from the address to Aspes Road, where he had earlier left his Citroen Berlingo van, and later took a bag containing his clothes to Snowberry Road, where friends of Cashman lived.
In police interviews, Russell said he did not like Cashman and just wanted to get him away from the woman’s house.
It's fresh torment for the family after hearing he will be free inside six months (Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)He told officers: “I’m terrified of him.”
The court heard at the time he was aware Cashman had been involved in a shooting but did not find out about Olivia’s death until the next morning.
He said he saw Cashman the following day and was warned: “Don’t say nothing.”
But, the court heard, that day Russell spoke to a trusted member of the community with a view to arranging to speak to police, who he made contact with the following day.
Tom Schofield, defending, said: “He doesn’t for a moment suggest he is blameless in this case and he recognises that it’s right he should be punished.”
He said moments after Russell was charged, last October, he was issued with a threat to life notice by police.
He had been remanded to a prison in Leeds but was transferred to another prison, under an assumed name, because of a threat to his safety.
Mr Schofield said Russell would be given a new identity and not allowed to return to Merseyside on his release.
He said: “The defendant, for what it’s worth to the court and to others listening, is the epitome of remorse for what he did.”
Cashman was jailed for life with a minimum of 42 years earlier this month.
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