The sister of Olivia Pratt-Korbel gave a heartbreaking statement in court before Thomas Cashman was sentenced to 42 years in prison.
Thomas Cashman was unanimously found guilty of murdering Olivia Pratt-Korbel by a jury on Thursday March 30. She was shot dead in her own home on Kingsheath Avenue in Dovecot in one of the most horrific crimes in Merseyside's history.
Cashman, 34, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum jail term of 42 years. Gasps were heard among Olivia's family as the sentence was passed with one man heard to say "yes", while her mum Cheryl was seen dabbing her eyes with a tissue.
READ MORE: Armed police surround road as Thomas Cashman arrives in court ahead of sentencing
Before Cashman was sentenced the court heard statements from Cheryl Korbel, Olivia's mum, John Francis Pratt, Olivia's dad and Chloe Korbel, Olivia's sister. The family gave emotional statements full of heart-warming stories as well as how Olivia's murder had impacted their lives.
Chloe told the court how much she missed her "best friend" and how a piece of herself left with Olivia that night.
She said: "The 22nd of August 2022 was the worst day of my life, the day my Olivia was taken away from us. Not only did I lose my baby sister, but I lost my best friend.
"When I was told that she passed away I felt as though my heart had stopped beating. A piece of me left with her that night and since then I have felt as though I’m in a nightmare that I cannot wake up from.
"My family and I are living a real-life tragedy and there’s nothing we can do to change it. This is all because of certain selfish people feeling that it is okay to carry guns and fire them whilst putting innocent people at risk of getting hurt or losing their life.
"This happens, its reality and my little Olivia is proof of that. I miss Olivia, I miss my baby sister and I miss my best friend.
"I grieve for what we will never get to do together. I miss sharing my bedroom with her and hearing her talk all of the time. All the things we should be doing or would be doing as she got older, confiding in one another, shopping together, laughing and making memories.
"I am beyond grateful to have had nine years of Olivia and I will keep those memories of us and her forever."
The 18-year-old went on to speak about how Olivia was her "best friend" and as she grew up she would wear her clothes and wear her make up.
Her victim impact statement said: "In October 2012 my mum found out that she was pregnant and that started my journey to being a big sister. A few weeks later she discovered she was having a girl.
"Our precious little Olivia was born on 13th June 2013 which was five days after my birthday. It was the best present I had ever received. I knew that I would always protect and look after her, I just loved her so much.
"Olivia was the best friend I had always wanted. We were so close as I was not only her big sister, but I looked after her when my mum was working.
"I would collect her from school and go on days out with her at the weekends. When Olivia was old enough to sleep in a bed, we shared a bedroom.
"As she grew, she soon began to notice all of my clothes and makeup and jewellery. She would take them and wear them and if I couldn’t find something I didn’t need to look very far- Olivia clearly believed what was mine was also hers.
"I would often look for something and not be able to find it, Olivia would tell me she didn’t have it but then it would turn up the following day in her makeup bag or one of her drawers. I remember she once went to school wearing my Pandora bracelet on her wrist.
"Her teacher told her that she shouldn’t have it with her as it was too expensive to have in school and it was also too big for her little wrists. When she came home from school, mum and I noticed something dangling from the buckle on her school shoe- my pandora bracelet.
"She had put it on there to keep it safe with it being too big for her wrist - she was such a clever girl and definitely older than her years."
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