Detectives have received information suggesting two of the horrific murders that rocked Merseyside last month are linked but are not treating it as a "primary line of enquiry".
Today Merseyside Police released CCTV footage of the gunman who murdered nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel in Kingsheath Avenue, Dovecot, and revealed he fired two guns during the incident that led to her death on Monday, August 22.
The force also released footage of a witness who may hold vital information, showing him standing on the corner of Kingsheath Avenue and Finch Lane at around the time of the murder. During a press conference at Merseyside Police HQ, Detective Chief Superintendent Mark Kameen told the media that the force had made "significant progress" in the investigation into Olivia's death and thanked the public for its "fantastic response" to appeals for information.
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However DCS Kameen said he was again urgently appealing for help and slammed anyone willing to protect the "toxic" killer who burst into Olivia's home while chasing 35-year-old Joseph Nee, who had rushed through the door in a bid to escape and was also wounded.
He said: "I am going to show you footage of the man that murdered little Olivia. I am doing this because people may recognise what he is wearing. It may also help people remember seeing him in the area on the night of Olivia’s murder and be able to help us trace where he went next.
"This footage shows the gunman running along Finch Lane away from Kingsheath Avenue. You then see him turn right into Berryford Road and go out of sight. We know he is climbing into and through people's gardens to avoid being seen.
"As you can see, the gunman was wearing a black padded jacket and a black balaclava with a peak and black gloves and he is described as approximately 5ft 7in tall with a slim build.
"This is the man we are hunting for – we need to know where he went that night or did you see him in the area? Remember this was shortly after 10pm on Monday 22nd August."
DCS Kameen also said: "I want to know where those guns are now. You may have been told to hide them or dispose of them - I understand you may be frightened of contacting us, but I want you to do the right thing for Olivia and tell us where they are right now.
"If you are hiding the guns and you have no intention of telling us, then I place you in the same category as the vile man responsible for the murder. And we will hunt you too.
"I would repeat the fact that the actions of the person who carried out this cold blooded attack do not command loyalty in any way, shape or form and Olivia’s family need to know that everyone responsible for her murder have been caught and convicted.
"So I ask you again – where are those guns now?"
Several sources in the community of Dovecot and beyond say there are rumours that Olivia's murder is linked to the devastating murder of Knowsley Council civil servant Ashley Dale, 28, who was gunned down inside her own home in Leinster Road, Old Swan, in the early hours of Sunday, August 21.
Miss Dale was found collapsed in the rear yard of her house with a gunshot wound to the abdomen, inches away from her mobile phone, after a gunman forced open the front door and fired multiple shots "indiscriminately".
The rumours of a link were heightened after the force announced yesterday that a 27-year-old man from Dovecot had been arrested on suspicion of Miss Dale's murder and possession of a firearm. Today, during the press conference, the ECHO asked if the force was still working on the basis that the two deaths were not connected.
DCS Kameen replied: "So we have had a range of information in relation to that, across a wide spectrum, on those that are responsible and the motives for it. We do have information held that indicates [a link], but that is not our primary line of enquiry."
On Tuesday a coroner's court heard harrowing details of how an armed response Merseyside Police officer "scooped" Olivia up after responding to reports of a shooting and finding her with a gunshot wound to the chest. Andre Rebello, senior coroner for Liverpool and Wirral, said the officer had rushed her to Alder Hey Children's Hospital, a very short distance from the scene, and ran into the main entrance while covering her wound with his hand.
Two men, aged 36 and 32, have so far been arrested on suspicion of Olivia's murder but were later released on bail pending further enquiries. The older man was also recalled to prison on licence.
Anyone with information is asked to DM @MerPolCC or call @CrimestoppersUK anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting log 22000621096. You can also pass information on our Major Incident Public Portal website mipp.police.uk
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