Man who helped Olivia Pratt-Korbel killer gets new ID - and is free in 6 months
The man who helped Olivia Pratt-Korbel's murderer evade justice will be free inside six months with a new identity - costing the tax-payer thousands.
Paul Russell, Thomas Cashman's getaway driver, was sentenced to 22 months in prison after admitting assisting the killer following the murder of the nine-year-old.
Tragic Olivia was shot inside her home in Dovecot, Liverpool, last August and the 41-year-old disposed of clothing worn by the child murderer and drove him back to his van following the fatal shooting of the nine-year-old.
Russell showed no emotion as the sentence was passed at Liverpool Crown Court this afternoon but the term left the victim's family outraged after learning he will be free by the end of the summer.
He will be released inside six months after the judge took into account the time spent on remand, subjecting the little girl's family to fresh torment.
Final words of Olivia, 9, before being shot as mum cried 'stay with me baby'
Paul Russell, 40, was today sentenced to 22 months in prison (Liverpool Echo)
But he is expected to be free by September despite helping Olivia Pratt-Korbel's killer (PA)Russell will be given a new identity upon his release at huge cost - a bill footed by the taxpayer, reports Liverpool Echo
Justice Yip told Russell he will be given credit of 25 per cent for his guilty plea before his sentencing this afternoon.
But he has been told he will "not be allowed to return to Merseyside" and will "no doubt be looking over his shoulder for some years to come".
News on his much shorter sentence on Wednesday left members of Olivia's family in tears.
Olivia's heartbroken brother Ryan Korbel stormed out when he heard the sentence may be suspended - which the judge ultimately refused due to the 'seriousness' of the crime.
Russell showed little emotion as his sentence was passed down (PA)
He was a get-away driver for killer Thomas Cashman, 34, who will serve a minimum of 42 years for her murder (PA)Tom Schofield, defending Russell, told the hearing Russell’s parents have had to move away from the city since the shooting.
He said: "It would be naïve not to recognise this hardship and disruption he has brought upon himself.
"Of course, all of that hardship and disruption is but a drop in the ocean of grief that Olivia’s family have had to endure and will continue to endure. I do ask the court to reflect those circumstances in some way in his sentence."
Russell gave killer 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.
Olivia murder suspect told police 'youse are stitching me up' after arrest
The sentence was a new blow for the tragic nine-year-old's family (Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)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.
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.
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.
“Thankfully Russell saw fit to hand himself in when he realised the enormity of what Cashman had done and that Olivia had been killed.
Her home in Kingsheath Avenue, where the girl was gunned down last year (Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)"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.
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.
Mr Schofield, defending, added: “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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