A witness in the Olivia Pratt-Korbel trial who claims he was with suspect Thomas Cashman at the time of the fatal shooting was told on Friday afternoon: "You are a liar."
The 34-year-old defendant, of Grenadier Drive in West Derby, is accused of being the man who shot the nine-year-old girl dead in her own home on Kingsheath Avenue in Dovecot on the evening of August 22 last year. He is currently standing trial accused of her murder, but denies being the gunman or any involvement in the incident.
Nicholas McHale was called by the defence to give evidence on Friday. Cashman previously told the jury when he was on the stand that he was with his friend Craig Byrne, who lives opposite Mr McHale on Snowberry Road, counting £10,000 cash and smoking cannabis at the time Olivia was killed.
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Mr McHale claimed that he had seen and spoken to him outside the address around this time. Under cross examination by David McLachlan KC, prosecuting, the 32-year-old was asked: "Have you been following this case?"
The witness replied "Bits, bits of it yeah. I’ve been reading it on the ECHO.
"A little browse now and again. He’s my mate."
Mr McLachlan put to him "have you been paid to be here?". But Mr McHale denied this.
When asked "why are you here?", he responded: "Because I believe and know Thomas Cashman is innocent."
Mr McLachlan then pointed to the dock as he asked: “Are you telling the truth? Or are you trying to bail him out."
Mr McHale replied "I'm telling the truth" and denied that he had been "put up to it" by Cashman. He added that he was "known in the area as a big time drug dealer".
Professor John Cooper KC, defending, earlier pointed out that the witness had been wearing a Monterrain t-shirt and Nike trainers as he gave evidence - being asked to take one of his shoes off to show jurors at one stage. The trial previously heard that both Cashman and the gunman had been wearing similar Monterrain tracksuit bottoms and Nike trainers, with the defendant asserting that such clothing is commonly worn in Liveprool.
Mr McLachlan asked of Mr McHale: "You’ve come dressed today with your Cruyff trainers on. Have you got Nike trainers?"
He responded "I've got Nike trainers yeah". Mr McLachlan continued: "You’ve got your Monterrain top on, is that just what you’d wear of a day?"
Mr McHale agreed and said he too had a pair of Monterrain trackies. The prosecutor asked: "Do all the lads have them in Dovecot?"
The witness said "yeah, it’s a popular brand". When Mr McLachlan enquired "everybody's mad for Monterrain in Dovecot?", Mr McHale replied: “That’s correct, yes.”
He also confirmed that he was on a "TikTok date" with a woman in Alderley Edge on the afternoon of August 22 and was later sending "flirty" messages to Cashman's niece Bobbi Bailey. Mr McHale said of this: "We always have flirty banter, I’ve always fancied her."
Mr McLachlan finished his questioning by again pointing to the dock and asking: “You’re willing to stand there and say, at 10 o’clock, you’ve seen that man?”
Mr McHale said: "That’s correct, ‘cos I did."
Mr McLachlan replied: "I put it to you squarely, you are a liar."
The witness stated: "I'm not."
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 the night in question after approaching him and a man called Paul Abraham from behind. The gunman then fired 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 he may have been saved when the gun appeared to "malfunction" as his assailant 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 attacker, 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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