Thomas Cashman's girlfriend had her head in her hands when he was found guilty of murdering Olivia Pratt-Korbel.
Cashman was unanimously found guilty of the murder of the nine-year-old in her own home on Kingsheath Avenue, Dovecot, on the night of August 22 last year. Drug dealer Cashman, of Grenadier Drive, West Derby, was today (Thursday, March 30) unanimously found guilty of one of the most horrific crimes in Merseyside's history.
Cashman was also found guilty of attempting to murder 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.
READ MORE: Thomas Cashman's family swear and shout 'he's innocent' as they leave court
As the jury foreman read his verdict, his girlfriend, Kayleeanne Sweeney, put her head in her hands while his family cried following the news. Cashman turned and shook his head at his family while wiping tears away from his eyes.
As the family left the courtroom, they were heard shouting, swearing and protesting Cashman's innocence. His sister could be heard shouting others were responsible for the senseless murder while she was ushered out of the court building by police officers and court security.
When the family left the building, they were seen putting two fingers up to photographers and Ms Sweeney was also seen wearing a pink coat, the colour worn by Olivia's family in her memory.
Manchester Crown Court previously heard during a three-and-a-half-week trial that Cashman "lay in wait" for Nee while armed with two loaded guns as his intended target watched a Liverpool FC v Manchester United football match on the television at his friend Timmy Naylor's house on Finch Lane. When he left the address with another man, Paul Abraham, the gunman approached them from behind and opened fire with a self-loading Glock-style pistol.
A chilling piece of CCTV footage showed Mr Abraham running for his life as two loud bangs rang out. Convicted burglar and drug dealer Nee was shot in the midriff at this point and stumbled to the floor as a result of his injuries.
David McLachlan KC, prosecuting, described how Cashman had "murder on his mind" and stood over the helpless man and attempted to discharge the firearm again as he begged: "Please don't. Don't lad".
But the gun malfunctioned, and Nee was able to escape. Cashman however continued his "ruthless pursuit" as he fled towards the Korbel family home.
Forty-six-year-old Cheryl, alarmed by the gunfire outside, had stepped out of her house to investigate but quickly rushed back indoors when she saw Nee running towards her and away from Cashman - who was dressed all in black and had his face covered. She then tussled with the gunman's intended target in an attempt to keep her front door shut and to keep him out of the property but was unable to fully close it as it had been left on the latch in order to allow the neighbours to let themselves in for a cup of tea.
The assailant fired another shot with a second, backup weapon - a 0.3 calibre revolver - at this point. This was the shot which claimed Olivia's life, the bullet passing through the door and travelling through the mother's hand before striking her in the chest.
The schoolgirl had been upstairs in bed but was heard to say "mummy, I'm scared" as she ran to the bottom of the stairs to her mum having been startled by the commotion. With Nee by now inside, Cashman then forced his arm around the door and fired one final shot which became lodged in the doorframe.
Olivia was scooped up by the first police officer to arrive at the scene and rushed to Alder Hey Children's Hospital after being critically injured, but was pronounced dead shortly before 11.30pm. There were emotional scenes in court as Cheryl Korbel recounted the tragedy in a video interview with police, which was played to the jury.
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