Gunman who shot dead Olivia Pratt-Korbel, 9, loses appeal bid

The gunman who shot dead nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel was refused permission to appeal his 42-year minimum term.

Thomas Cashman, 35, was jailed for life after he was convicted of murdering Olivia at her home in Liverpool in August 2022.

The drug dealer fired a number of shots in an attempt to murder rival criminal Joseph Nee in the Dovecot area of the city, one of which went through the front door of Cheryl Korbel, injuring her and fatally wounding her daughter Olivia.

At a hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice in central London, John Cooper KC made a renewed application to Court of Appeal judges for permission to challenge the minimum term after an earlier written application was turned down.

He argued that the tariff was excessive and should be reduced.

But Dame Victoria Sharp, sitting with Mrs Justice McGowan and Mr Justice Chamberlain, refused the application.

In her judgment, Dame Victoria said: "The sentence imposed by the judge was a long one. It means the applicant will be well into his seventies before he can be considered for release on licence.

"That, however, is a consequence of the commission by him of these terrible crimes, rather than of any error of approach on the part of the judge."

She added: "These events have left Olivia's mother and her family with a lifelong sentence of trauma and loss. There were no mitigating features. There was no remorse.

"The sentence ultimately arrived at was entirely merited on the facts and contrary is not arguable."

This video has been edited to comply with reporting restrictions.

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