The trial of Thomas Cashman was delayed for more than two hours today after a door between the cells and the dock of the courtroom "failed".
The jury were left waiting while an engineer was called to courtroom one at Manchester Crown Court to fix the door so that Cashman could be brought into court to continue giving evidence. The 34-year-old, of Grenadier Drive in West Derby, is part way through being cross-examined by the prosecution over the murder of Olivia Pratt-Korbel.
Shortly after midday, judge Mrs Justice Yip called the jury into the courtroom and explained what had caused the delay. She said: "I'm very sorry for the delay.
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"The reason was as simple as a failed door lock, meaning the defendant could not get from the cells to the courtroom. It’s frustrating for everyone, not least for Mr Cashman who is in the middle of his evidence, but we have checked and he is ready.”
Manchester Crown Court heard during the prosecution's opening earlier this month that an armed man had been "relentlessly pursuing" Joseph Nee shortly before 10pm on August 22 2022 after approaching him and a man called Paul Abraham from behind and firing shots at his "target" with a 9mm self-loading pistol. Nee - who had been watching the Liverpool v Manchester United game with friends including Paul Abraham at a house on Finch Lane in Dovecot - was struck in the midriff and fell to the ground, but may have been saved when the gun appeared to "malfunction" as the gunman stood over him.
He was then able to scramble to his feet and ran towards the Korbel family home on Kingsheath Avenue, where he barged through the partially open front door. The assailant, however, had a second firearm - a revolver - and continued to give chase, firing a further two shots with this weapon.
One of these shots passed through the door, struck Olivia's mum Cheryl Korbel in the hand then fatally hit the youngster in the chest. The other bullet became lodged in the doorframe.
Cashman denies murdering Olivia Pratt-Korbel, the attempted murder of Joseph Nee, wounding with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm against Cheryl Korbel and two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. The trial continues.
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