He is, according to the words of his own barrister, 'the most hated man in Britain'.
Thomas Cashman 'ran the streets' of an inner-city suburb and was 'feared' by those who came across his path, a friend revealed today after the hitman was found guilty of the murder of innocent Olivia Pratt-Korbel, a smiley nine-year-old schoolgirl with her whole life in front of her.
But there were few fireworks as Cashman gave evidence during his trial at Manchester Crown Court. The 34-year-old stood accused of one of the most devastating crimes in the history of Merseyside, but was calm, softly spoken and sometimes so quiet as he took to the stand that trial judge, Mrs Justice Yip, had to ask him repeatedly to raise his voice.
