Olivia Pratt-Korbel trial: Thomas Cashman was arrested in Runcorn

Manchester Crown Square Crown Court heard today, Tuesday, how Thomas Cashman was “lying in wait" for his intended target on the evening of the shooting.

Opening the trial, David McLachlan, prosecuting, said on August 22 last year, Cashman had two loaded firearms in his possession and was waiting for Joseph Nee, who was "without doubt the intended target".

He said Nee was watching a football match at the house of another man, Timothy Naylor, in Dovecot, Liverpool, and when he left the house at around 10pm another person ran after him.

The jury was shown CCTV stills of the person following Nee, who the prosecution say is Cashman.

Mr McLachlan said: "He does not accept that that was him."

The jury were shown CCTV and heard three bangs. Mr McLachlan said three shots were fired, at least one of which hit Nee in the midriff.

Witnesses heard Nee shouting "please don't", "don't lad" and "what are you doing lad? What are you doing?"

Olivia Pratt-Korbel (Image: PA)

He told the court Nee stumbled and Cashman tried to shoot him again, but for some reason, possibly because his self-loading pistol malfunctioned, was "unable to complete his task".

Mr McLachlan said: "His task, the prosecution say, was to kill Joseph Nee."

The barrister told the court Nee ran away from Cashman and when Olivia's mother, Cheryl Korbel, opened her door after hearing loud bangs, he made a dash towards her house.

Cashman was "relentless in pursuit" and fired at Nee with a second weapon, a revolver, Mr McLachlan said.

He said: "This shot missed Joseph Nee and went through Cheryl Korbel's front door.

"That fourth likely shot passed through the door, it then passed through Cheryl Korbel's right hand as she was no doubt trying to shut the door. The bullet then went into the chest of Cheryl Korbel's daughter Olivia Pratt-Korbel."

The court heard Joseph Nee entered the home of Olivia Pratt-Korbel's family and the gunman was able to get his hand around the side of the door and fired again, with the bullet lodging in the internal door frame.

Thomas Cashman arriving at court in Manchester (Image: PA)

Mr McLachlan said Cashman ran off and Nee stumbled outside the house, where he was picked up in a car and taken to hospital.

Armed officers attended and Olivia was taken to Alder Hey Children's Hospital, where she was pronounced dead, the court heard.

The jury was told the main issue for them would be whether they were sure that Cashman was the gunman in the case.

Mr McLachlan said: "The issue is, was it him? What happened to Thomas Cashman after the shooting? Where did he go? What did he do, with a shooting that had gone horribly wrong?”

He said that Cashman ran away from the scene of the shooting through back gardens.

The jury was told Cashman was later driven back to where he had parked his Citroen Berlingo van earlier in the day.

Two days after the shooting, Cashman went to an address in Runcorn, the court heard.

Armed police outside court in Manchester (Image: PA)

Mr McLachlan said a forensic scientist found gunshot residue on a pair of tracksuit bottoms found in Thomas Cashman's sister's house, as well as Cashman's DNA.

The court heard a clothing image comparison expert would give evidence on a pair of tracksuit bottoms and trainers worn by Cashman and those worn by the gunman.

Mr McLachlan said Cashman was arrested on September 4 in Runcorn and told officers: "You stupid c****, youse are stitching me up for whatever it is, what's it for? What have I done, go on?"

When he was told he was being arrested on suspicion of murder, he said: "Youse are mad."

After being told the circumstances of his arrest, he said: "That's a load of b*****t. Everything that said is a load of s**t and I've done nothing. It's nothing to do with me."

In interview he gave a prepared statement saying he had no involvement and then answered "no comment", the court heard.

Cashman was re-arrested at an address in Liverpool on September 29, the court heard, and told police: "You've got an innocent man."

Floral tributes at the scene of Olivia's home in Liverpool (Image: PA)

Mr McLachlan said: "The prosecution case is that this was a pre-planned and ruthless attempt to kill Joseph Nee.

"Thomas Cashman did his best to check on Joseph Nee's whereabouts on multiple occasions in order to make sure that he was present when he went Timothy Naylor's house before the execution was to take place.

"He went so well prepared that he had two loaded firearms.

"When Joseph Nee had been shot and was begging for his life, quite simply, the man after him did not stop and would not stop. He continued in his pursuit.

"He ran after Joseph Nee to the extent that he ran up Cheryl Korbel's pathway. And he fired two more shots."

Mr McLachlan said: "We, on behalf of the prosecution, do not say and will never say 'convict this man because some young girl has died'.

"We do not say that, we will never say that.

"What we will do is put evidence before you and say you can convict him on the evidence, not on emotion and sympathy, in this case."

Jurors were told they would begin hearing evidence in the case tomorrow, Wednesday.