The head designer of Footaslyum has given evidence to the trial of Thomas Cashman.
The 34-year-old, of Grenadier Drive in West Derby, is currently standing trial accused of murdering nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel. The schoolgirl was shot dead in her own home on Kingsheath Avenue in Dovecot on the evening of August 22 last year.
The prosecution turned to the topic of clothing Cashman was seen wearing and comparisons with that worn by the gunman during the ninth day of the case yesterday afternoon, Thursday. PC Michael Kirkman O’Connell described how he was able to identify the suspect's tracksuit and obtained such a tracksuit from Footasylum.
READ MORE: Thomas Cashman murder trial resumes as man accused of shooting schoolgirl Olivia Pratt-Korbel
Cashman's house was later searched for a black pair of Monterrain Lander woven running pants. However no such item was recovered.
Jade Holland, “head of design” at Footasylum, was then called to give evidence. She confirmed she was the designer of a Monterrain tracksuit which she was shown pictures of a mannequin wearing.
The witness stated that the design was “quite unique” and could be bought via Footasylum or the Monterrain website. The product - which Ms Holland described as "popular and a good seller" - launched "towards the back end of 2021" but was said to be no longer on sale.
Image analyst Tessa Macklam was also called to the stand, having looked for similarities and differences between clothing Cashman was seen wearing on CCTV and that worn by the gunman. She was in particular asked to look at their trousers and footwear.
She identified the defendant as having worn "dark toned full length tracksuit bottoms". The distinctive features of these included "light tone horizontal stripe to the leg, curving down to the front of the leg", a "light toned horizontal detail to the back of the leg below the knee" and being "tapered in appearance".
The shooter meanwhile was said to have worn “dark toned full length trousers with a light toned horizontal detail and tapered appearance”. Ms Macklam said she did not identify any features which indicated a difference between the trousers worn.
Cashman meanwhile was described in CCTV as wearing trainers with a “dark toned upper”, a “light toned sole”, a “light toned Nike swoosh”, a “dark toned towpath” and a “dark toned base to the sole”. The gunman was said to have had footwear with a “dark toned upper, light toned outer sole, light toned detail to the dark toned region on the outer aspect of the upper midsole and a dark tonal base to the sole”.
Mr McLachlan asked of the footwear "were there any differences?”. Ms Macklam replied: "I did not observe any."
Ms Macklam's evidence then continued for a second day today, Friday. She conducted further observations after being provided images of a mannequin wearing the supplied tracksuit.
Similarities between the clothing and that Cashman was seen wearing on CCTV included “dark toned full length trouser bottoms” with a “light toned horizontal stripe to the outer upper leg curving down to the front of the leg”, a “tapered appearance to the trouser leg”, a “large pouch pocket to the leg”, a “dark toned protrusion to the upper leg” and a “gathered white cuff to the ankle”. Comparison's between the trousers seen on the mannequin and those worn by the gunman included them being a “dark toned full length trouser”, a “light toned horizontal stripe detail to the upper leg”, a “light toned detail below the knees” and a “tapered appearance to the trouser leg”.
Comparing the footage of the shooting with the tracksuit supplied, Ms Macklam said: "My observations and markers led me to give the more probable conclusion that they are the same style and design as the reference images due to the quality of imagery, the behaviour of the trim under the same lighting conditions and the clarity of the style of features I am analysing."
Mr McLachlan asked the witness if there were “any distinctions to be had” between the clothing provided and those seen in the CCTV images. Ms Macklam replied: “No.”
Manchester Crown Court heard during the prosecution's opening last week that an armed man had been "relentlessly pursuing" Joseph Nee shortly before 10pm on August 22 2022 after approaching him and a man called Paul Abraham from behind and firing shots at his "target" with a 9mm self-loading pistol. Nee - who had been watching the Liverpool v Manchester United game with friends including Paul Abraham at a house on Finch Lane in Dovecot - was struck in the midriff and fell to the ground, but may have been saved when the gun appeared to "malfunction" as the gunman stood over him.
He was then able to scramble to his feet and ran towards the Korbel family home on Kingsheath Avenue, where he barged through the partially open front door. The assailant however, had a second firearm - a revolver - and continued to give chase, firing a further two shots with this weapon.
One of these shots passed through the door, struck Olivia's mum Cheryl Korbel in the hand then fatally hit the youngster in the chest. The other bullet became lodged in the doorframe.
Cashman denies murdering Olivia Pratt-Korbel, the attempted murder of Joseph Nee, wounding with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm against Cheryl Korbel and two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. The trial continues.
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