Mum of tragic Olivia Pratt-Korbel left devastated after memorial to schoolgirl shot dead is burned to the ground
THE MOTHER of tragic Olivia Pratt-Korbel has been left heartbroken after a memorial area created in the schoolgirl’s memory was set on fire.
The memorial park was established by mum Cheryl after Olivia, nine, was shot dead by Thomas Cashman who burst into her home in Liverpool in August 2022.
Olivia was hit by a bullet fired by Cashman as he tried to kill gangland rival Joseph Nee, who had run into Olivia’s home to try and escape from him.
In the wake of her death, the playground was created close to where Olivia’s family live in Liverpool.
But it has been partly destroyed after kids playing with fire sparked a blaze earlier this week.
The Olivia’s Butterfly Foundation, which was established by Cheryl’s cousin Rebecca Louise, posted a video of the damage on Facebook, adding: “Unfortunately, this is the aftermath of children playing with fire on the Finch Lane land where Olivia’s memorial tree sits.
“This equipment belongs to HA Civils, a local company who, out of the kindness of their own hearts, are actually helping us develop that land which will in turn benefit the local children and our community.
“We are extremely disappointed and it breaks our hearts to see a local firm lose out on so much financially and our land destroyed.
“This sets us back with our plans but somehow doesn’t put us off, we will come back from this and continue with our plans to create a better space for the area.
“We need to educate our children on the dangers of playing with fire whether done intentionally or not and most certainly on the consequences of doing so. This could have been SO much worse as so many other things/people could have been affected.
“Thank you to everyone who reached out to us informing us of this matter, to the local authorities and our community who share with us the highest level of disappointment.”
Local resident Craig Anthony wrote: “I tried to stop them even by throwing water over one of the culprits while they were still under the barriers trying to relight it.
“It really angered me considering the importance of the area.”
Merseyside Police are investigating the fire, which was started on April 16.
‘Chilling’ killing
The youngster had been stood behind her mum Cheryl Korbel when Thomas Cashman, 34, blindly fired through the front door in a botched gang hit.
His bullet missed intended hit Joseph Nee and instead passed through Cheryl’s hand into the middle of Olivia’s chest.
Only moments earlier, she had run terrified from her bedroom after hearing the commotion, screaming: “Mum, I’m scared”.
Cashman was jailed for life with a minimum of 42 years for the “particularly grave” and “chilling” killing.
Olivia’s mum sobbed as the sentence was handed down while she clutched a pink teddy bear made from her daughter’s pyjamas.
A young child was shot and killed in her own home
Judge Mrs Justice Yip
The killer had refused to attend his sentencing after his defence claimed he was aware prosecutors sang “We are the Champions” following his conviction.
Judge Mrs Justice Yip said Olivia’s family have “suffered an unimaginable loss”, which they must carry for “the rest of their lives”.
Describing the horror, she said Cashman knew a “wholly innocent woman was by the door and yet that is where he chose to take aim”.
The judge added: “A young child was shot and killed in her own home.
“Olivia was coming downstairs to seek reassurance.
“Cheryl Korbel should have been able to give that reassurance and tuck Olivia back into bed.
“What happened was chilling.
“Shooting into a family home with no regard for who may be court in the crossfire is obviously a very significant aggravating factor.”
‘Worst nightmare’
In an emotional victim impact statement, Cheryl spoke of feeling “helpless” and not being able to save her daughter due to her own shooting injury.
She also revealed that her worst nightmare was being separated from Liv and not being with her when she needed her most.
Speaking of her torment following Olivia’s death, Cheryl added: “Liv never stopped talking. She would be chatting away. One thing I miss most is hearing her say ‘mum’, I just miss hearing her voice.”
“It’s just so quiet. I would do anything to have her chatting to me. It’s so lonely without her. Everything is so quiet. I can’t cope with the silence.
She told how the horror happened at home, where they should have been safe, as she revealed how everything was left as it was when the family were forced to leave.
This included cups of tea sat on the table next to a Princess Trust form where kind Olivia was planning to donate her hair and a doll lying on the floor.
I soaked up the surroundings until reality dawned and brought me back to our living nightmare
Cheryl Korbel
Cheryl, who described the experience as “utter heartbreak”, added: “In that moment, I was home. We were back to how our lives were before that night.
“I soaked up the surroundings until reality dawned and brought me back to our living nightmare.”
The mum said Cashman’s evil actions have left the biggest hole in our lives that can never be filled.
She told how her family has been waiting for the trial just “existing day-to-day” and “not addressing how broken we are as a family”.
Slamming Cashman, she added: “I cannot get my head around how Cashman continued to shoot after he heard the screams.
“That man set out to do a job, and he didn’t care about anyone else or who got in the way.
I felt as though my heart had stopped beating
Cheryl Korbel
“He certainly couldn’t own it either.”
The mum continued: “My nine-year-old Liv was the light of our lives. She was a character, She was my baby. She had amazing qualities and knew what she wanted in life.
“She will never get to wear a prom dress, have a sweet sixteen birthday, walk down the aisle, or become a mother and have children of her own.
“All that promise for her future, so cruelly taken away. Now I have to drive to the cemetery to be close to my baby daughter.
“I miss her smile, her kisses, her cuddles. She will always be with me, my little shadow.
“We love you endless amounts.”
Olivia’s sister Chloe paid tribute to her “best friend”, telling the court how the day Olivia died was the “worst day of my life”.
She added: “I felt as though my heart had stopped beating.
“A piece of me left that night, and since then I felt as though I’m in a nightmare I cannot wake up from.”
Jailed drug lord who murdered nine-year old Olivia Pratt-Korbel busted ‘for dealing narcotics & having illegal phone’
THE killer of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel has been busted in prison for allegedly dealing drugs and having an illegal mobile phone.
Cocaine, cannabis and an iPhone were found in notorious gangster Thomas Cashman’s cell, sources say.
The contraband is thought to have been dropped by a drone into the grounds of Long Lartin prison, near Evesham, Worcs.
A source said: “He is said to have been selling drugs on the wing and has established himself there as a top dog. He has totally failed to learn the error of his ways and is still dealing drugs behind bars.”
Cashman was a major drug supplier in Liverpool and making up to £5,000 a week when he shot dead Olivia at her home in the Dovecot area of the city in August 2022.
The father of two fired indiscriminately into the house as he gave chase to rival dealer Joseph Nee and a second man.