The killer of Olivia Pratt-Korbel could have his 42-year prison sentence increased due to complaints that the verdict was 'too lenient'. Thomas Cashman, 34, could not face the nine-year-old's relatives in court when handed his sentence.
At Manchester Crown Court, the drug dealer who shot Olivia in her home in Dovecot, Liverpool in August last year, was sentenced to 42-years. The horrifying murder caught the attention of the entire nation, reports the Liverpool Echo.
A court heard Cashman pre-empted killing Joseph Nee, 36, as the convicted criminal ran towards the home of Olivia. Cashman pursued and Olivia's mother, Cheryl Korbel, 46, who hit in the wrist after attempting to keep the door closed, but the same bullet hit daughter Olivia in the chest resulting in her death.
The nine-year-old's final words to her mother were "Mummy, I'm scared". The Attorney General's Office confirmed today that Cashman's sentence had been referred for being 'unduly lenient', according to the Echo.
A spokesperson commented: "We have received a request for this sentence to be considered under the Unduly Lenient scheme. The law officers have 28 days from sentencing to consider the case and make a decision."
The office has until May 1 to decide whether to refer the complaint to the Court of Appeal with that deadline coming 28 days after Cashman was sentenced on April 3. Judges could be set to increase the sentence to a whole life term.
The Court of Appeal also confirmed this week that the killer had appealed to have his jail term reduced. An official commented: "We received an application for leave to appeal the claimant's sentence." The Echo claims no application, however, has been made in relation to the conviction of murder. One appeal court judge will make the decision on whether the opportunity to appeal will be given.
Olivia's mother Cheryl said post-trial: "We welcome the sentence given, but what I can say is that my family and I have already started our life sentence having to spend the rest of our lives without Olivia. Everyone adored her."
Speaking to the Mirror, earlier this month she added: "Why should we go through all that and then he gets the option of not being there? It’s like a kick in the teeth. He’s just a coward – and that’s being polite. I’ve got some slight comfort from him being behind bars. But he’s still got a roof over his head, three square meals, access to gyms and this, that and the other."
Mrs Justice Amanda Yip, who sentenced the 34-year-old this month, noted a whole-life order was considered but that she decided it was not 'merited' due to the fact Cashman's premeditated attack was not directed at the young girl.
Justice Yip told a court that Cashman was "not of previous good character" and had "demonstrated no remorse" during the proceedings. She added: “His failure to come into court is further evidence of that."
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