SPECIAL REPORT: Today marks the first year anniversary of the murder of Olivia Pratt-Korbel that rocked Merseyside to its core. Crime Reporter Jonathan Humphries spoke to some of those living with the memories of that day
For many of the people who call Dovecot's Kingsheath Avenue home, the experiences of one year ago today will haunt them for as long as they live.
As we heard during a harrowing four week trial at Manchester Crown Court in March, Nee tried to escape by forcing his way into the Korbel home. Cashman, undeterred by the obvious risk of hitting innocent bystanders, shot blindly through the front door, with a .38 calibre revolver, wounding Cheryl and hitting nine-year-old Olivia in the chest. The schoolgirl had been frightened by the loud bangs and gone to find her mum downstairs, who was wrestling with the door trying to keep Nee out.
The mum said the first police car arrived quickly, within minutes of the shots being fired. "The police came out then carrying Olivia. I said to my husband ‘it’s a kid, a kid has been shot’, he said ‘don’t be stupid it’s not’. She said: “It was dead sombre. Nobody wanted to let the kids out. This street was always full of kids.”
Another neighbour, who also heard the puzzling bangs outside her home as she sat to watch the 10 o’clock news, recalled the way local criminals tried to ensure nobody would speak to the police even before Olivia’s death. “Everyone around here was sobbing, even the children. Even my niece and nephew, they came to stay and they were so afraid to go out.”
She said: “They need education. Some of them have been in gangs since they were in primary school age.” The police have used intelligence from the community to target "hotspots", and say between January and July this year EVOLVE has led to 379 arrests, three firearm seizures, and 44 premises searches. More than 4kg of suspected Class A and B drugs has been seized and 39 safeguarding referrals have been made.
“At nine years of age she had her whole life ahead, but her future was stolen and her family will never forget the pain they have endured and will continue to endure for the rest of their lives.
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