It has now been more than two weeks since nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel was shot dead in her own home.
The schoolgirl's family is still holding out for answers, with no one charged since her death. The recent news this morning revealed Merseyside Police still need more information and evidence before they can charge anyone over the murder, with one murder suspect being bailed as a result.
Since the tragic night on Monday, August 22, when a mystery gunman burst into the home of Cheryl Korbel and her family in pursuit of 35-year-old Joseph Nee, before shooting Olivia, mum Cheryl and then Nee, the family have released a number of emotional pleas in the hope of getting justice for Olivia.
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On Thursday, August 25, just three days after Olivia's death, the family released a touching tribute where they described her as "nine going on 19". The tribute said: "Liv was a unique chatty, nosey little girl who broke the mould when she was born. She loved life and all it had to offer.
"Liv loved dressing up and was very particular on how she was dressed, like any other little girl she loved doing her makeup and nails, she was nine going on 19.
"Liv was adored by everyone who knew her and would instantly make friends with anyone and everyone. She was often seen going up and down the street on her new bike she had just got for her birthday.
"Although her life was short, her personality certainly wasn’t and she lived it to the most she could, and would blow people away with her wit and kindness. We as a family are heartbroken and have lost a huge part of our life.
"If anyone knows anything, now is the time to speak up. It is not about being a “snitch” or a “grass” it is about finding out who took our baby away from us. PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING.
"We as a family are eternally grateful for the help and support we have received from people across the world.
"We are also thankful to Merseyside Police for the outstanding work and to the staff at Alder Hey and Aintree hospitals."
Since that tribute was released, a number of people have been arrested, with four people arrested in the last week, all of which being bailed due to lack of evidence. One man, a 34-year-old from Runcorn, was released on suspicion of murdering Olivia as well as one attempted murder.
Following the arrests, Olivia's dad, John Francis Pratt, and his wider family released a moving tribute yesterday. He wrote: "Words can’t express the pain we are going through after Olivia was so cruelly snatched away from us. Those responsible need to know what they have done.
"Olivia was a real bright spark who knew her own mind, had no problem making friends (she would talk to anyone) and loved to laugh and make people laugh. She could be a proper wind up merchant and loved to wind her nieces up, particularly those who were older than her and when they didn’t like it she’d just laugh and say ‘don’t forget I’m your aunty’.
"Olivia’s future has been cruelly snatched away from her and we have been deprived of a real light in our lives. We know that there has been an exceptional response to police appeals and we would like to thank those who have come forward. At the same time we want to urge others who may have evidence to keep coming forward with information which could help put those responsible for our Olivia’s murder behind bars.
"We have been really taken aback by the kindness and support we have received from family, friends and neighbours in the last two weeks and we would like to thank them for being there for us. We know that most people on Merseyside are good-hearted and kind just like them and we all need to stand together.
"We don’t want another child to lose their life in such horrendous circumstances and we don’t want to see another family suffer like we are suffering now.
"Olivia’s death cannot be in vain and we want people to feel safe and be safe, that can only happen if we all come together and make sure there is no place for guns, or those who use guns on our streets or in our communities. If you have information make sure you tell the police and if you don’t feel able to do that give the information to Crimestoppers anonymously so action can be taken. If you can’t do it for yourself, do it in Olivia’s name and for children across Merseyside who deserve to enjoy their lives to the full."
Olivia's mum, Cheryl Korbel, fought back tears as she pleaded for people to do the right thing and come forward with information in a video appeal released last night (September 7). In her emotional statement, Cheryl said: "She loved life, she was my little shadow, she went everywhere with me. She loved school, well she didn't like school because she had to do work, but she loved it because she was there with all of her friends.
"Everyone that she met, they all fell in love with her. She left a mark on everyone that she met and she may well have only been nine but she packed a lot into them nine years.
"She hurt your ears because she never, never, stopped talking and that's what I miss the most, because I can't hear her talk. I'm hoping that they come forward so this doesn't happen to anybody else.
"You know you have done wrong so you need to own up, like I've taught my kids. You do something wrong, you own up to it. If anyone is hiding these guns they need to speak up, because they need to be off these streets. No one at all should have to go through this.
"We were organising days out, we were on the summer holidays, we took Liv swimming. We went to Blackpool, just me and Liv, and we were talking about going to get her a new uniform for school but I didn't get that chance to go and get her school uniform.
"I'll keep going, for Liv."
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