Armed police surrounded a road as Thomas Cashman arrived at Manchester Crown Court today.
Cashman, of Grenadier Drive, West Derby, will today be sentenced for the murder of the nine-year-old schoolgirl. The "high level" drug dealer was found guilty of murdering the nine-year-old girl, who was shot dead inside her own home on Kingsheath Avenue in Dovecot on the evening of August 22 last year, by a jury on Thursday.
Cashman will receive a life imprisonment after being unanimously convicted of one of the most atrocious crimes in Merseyside's history. Justice Amanda Yip, who presided over his trial, will be required to set a minimum term which the 34-year-old must serve behind bars before he is considered eligible for release.
READ MORE: Child killer, hitman, drug dealer - How the dark truth about Thomas Cashman was exposed
Cashman arrived at Manchester Crown Square Court in an armed police convoy ahead of his sentencing this afternoon. Several armed officers took up positions along the road while Cashman arrived in a white van. The ECHO will be providing live updates from the courtroom throughout his hearing.
Cashman shook his head as the verdict was delivered after nine hours and three minutes of deliberations. Cashman turned to his family in the public gallery, placed his head in his hands and became tearful. Olivia's mum Cheryl Korbel, 46, cheered and lifted a teddy outside the courtroom after Cashman was found guilty. The mum, who was injured during the attack that killed her daughter, told the BBC she was "ecstatic" following the verdict.
The court previously heard during a three-and-a-half week trial that Cashman "lay in wait" for Nee while armed with two loaded guns as his intended target watched a Liverpool FC v Manchester United football match on the television at his friend Timmy Naylor's house on Finch Lane. When he left the address with another man, Paul Abraham, the gunman approached them from behind and opened fire three times with a self-loading pistol.
Nee was shot in the midriff at this point and stumbled to the floor as a result of his injuries. David McLachlan KC, prosecuting, described how Cashman then stood over the helpless man and attempted to discharge the firearm again as he begged: "Please don't, don't lad". But the gun malfunctioned, and Nee was able to escape. Cashman however continued his "ruthless pursuit" as he fled towards the Korbel family home.
Olivia's mum Cheryl then tussled with Nee in an attempt to keep her front door shut and to keep him out of the property, but the assailant fired another shot with a second gun - a revolver - at this point. This bullet passed through the door and travelled through the mother's hand before striking the youngster in the chest.
She had been upstairs in bed at the time, but was heard to say "mum, I'm scared" as she ran to the bottom of the stairs to her mum having been startled by the gunfire outside. With Nee by now inside, Cashman then forced his arm around the door and fired one final shot which became lodged in the doorframe.
Olivia was rushed to Alder Hey Children's Hospital after being critically injured, but was pronounced dead shortly before 11.30pm. Nee meanwhile was bundled into a car by his associates and taken to Whiston Hospital, later being transferred to Aintree Hospital.
The attacker was identified to have worn distinctive Monterrain trackies which matched a pair owned by Cashman. He had been observed on CCTV making a number of trips past Finch Lane on the day in question, including an apparent attempt to carry out the shooting at around 4pm that afternoon having spotted Nee's van outside - but this was thwarted after the then 35-year-old left to visit Screwfix.
Cashman however claimed in his evidence that he had no involvement in the shooting and was counting £10,000 in cash and "smoking a spliff" at Mr Byrne's house. He had admitted being a "high level" drug dealer who made up to £5,000 per week selling cannabis, and his various trips around the area throughout the day were apparently concerned with his involvement in the supply of the class B substance.
The defendant also stated he had "no problems" with the Nee family and counted them as friends. He said on the witness box: "I'm not a killer, I'm a dad."
Cashman was also found guilty of attempting to murder Joseph Nee, wounding with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm against Olivia's mum and two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.
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