Thomas Cashman today denied "getting rid" of a pair of tracksuit bottoms he is accused of wearing to shoot Olivia Pratt-Korbel.
The 34-year-old was cross-examined at Manchester Crown Court on Wednesday, where he is standing trial for the nine-year-old's murder on the evening of August 22 last year. Olivia died after a bullet passed through the front door of her family home on Kingsheath Avenue, Dovecot, hit the hand of her mum, Cheryl Korbel, and struck her in the chest.
The gunman had been chasing 36-year-old Joseph Nee, who barged into the Korbel house while fleeing for his life. Cashman denies being the gunman or any involvement in the shootings.
READ MORE: Thomas Cashman murder trial resumes as man accused of shooting Olivia Pratt-Korbel gives evidence
Today David McLachlan, KC, prosecuting, began cross-examining Cashman. Mr McLachlan asked about a pair of Monterrain tracksuit bottoms, which he was recorded on CCTV wearing two days after the murder, at a block of flats called The Decks in Runcorn.
The prosecution alleges that the trousers are identical to a pair the gunman was recorded wearing on CCTV at the time of the shooting on Kingsheath Avenue. However, no such pair has been recovered.
Under questioning from Mr McLachlan, Cashman accepted the pair he was wearing during a "chill break" in Runcorn were Monterrain tracksuit bottoms, which he said he had "probably bought" from JD Sports or Footasylum.
When pressed on where the tracksuit bottoms are now, he said he did not know and added: "Yous are suggesting that I’m the gunman, which I’m not. You’re suggesting I done this shooting in these pants I’m seen two days later in. [The witness] is suggesting she got rid of those pants for me. I’m seen with them tracksuit bottoms on. If she’s got rid of my tracksuit bottoms, why have I got them on two days later. Would I be wearing the same tracksuit bottoms two days later?”
Mr McLachlan said: “Tell us where they are then?”
Cashman replied "This is what I don’t know. They’re somewhere. I stay in Grenadier Drive. I stay in Runcorn, I stay in the flat on Baycliffe. Just before this I went on a little canal boat with John [Wynne]. Them pants are somewhere. The pants are somewhere. I haven’t got rid of them."
Cashman also suggested that that brand of tracksuit was "worn by everyone". He said: "Everybody wears them tracksuit bottoms and them trainees I wear."
Mr McLachlan asked: “Who?” Cashman replied: “Everybody in the whole of Liverpool. When something comes out, everyone goes mad about it. Everybody’s wearing Monterrain.
"It’s just what happens over the years and years.... Loads of people wear them tracksuit bottoms. They’re common.
"It’s like years ago when Lacoste come out. Berghaus came out. Everyone went mad about Monterrain. As the woman said, they were the best selling pants."
Earlier, under questions from his own barrister, Professor John Cooper, KC, Cashman broke down and became emotional. Mr Cooper said: "Did you commit any of these offences?"
Cashman's voice wavered as he said: "No, I’m getting blamed for something I haven’t done. I’m getting blamed for killing a child. I’ve got my own children. I’m not a killer, I’m a dad. I’m getting blamed for something I haven’t done.”
As well as denying Olivia's murder, Cashman denies the attempted murder of Nee, as well as wounding Cheryl Korbel with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm. He also pleaded not guilty to two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, namely a 9mm calibre self-loading pistol and a 0.3 calibre revolver.
The trial continues.
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