'I'm a dad, not a killer': Man accused of Olivia Pratt-Korbel murder sobs in court as he insists he's been 'stitched up'

22 March 2023, 21:44 | Updated: 23 March 2023, 07:42

Olivia Pratt-Korbel was killed after a gunman chased convicted drug dealer Joseph Nee into her home
Olivia Pratt-Korbel was killed after a gunman chased convicted drug dealer Joseph Nee into her home. Picture: Alamy

By Emma Soteriou

A man accused of killing Olivia Pratt-Korbel has broken down in court, insisting "I'm a dad, I'm not a killer".

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Thomas Cashman, 34, who is charged with murdering the nine-year-old, appeared to become emotional as he gave evidence for a second day at Manchester Crown Court on Wednesday.

Asked by John Cooper KC, defending, if he had committed any of the offences he was accused of, he said: "No, I did not. I am getting the blame for something I haven't done.

"I didn't do it and I'm getting the blame for it.

"I'm getting blamed for killing a child and I have got my own children.

"I'm a dad, I'm not a killer, I'm a dad.

"I'm getting blamed for something I haven't done."

Read more: Man accused of murdering Olivia Pratt-Korbel tells court he was 'high level cannabis dealer'

Read more: Olivia Pratt-Korbel 'picked up in blood-stained pyjamas' by police officer after nine-year-old gunned down at home

Thomas Cashman in court
Thomas Cashman in court. Picture: Alamy

A gunman shot Olivia and injured her mother, Cheryl Korbel, 46, after chasing convicted drug dealer Joseph Nee into their home in Dovecot, Liverpool, at about 10pm on August 22 last year.

Cashman, who has admitted being a "high-level cannabis dealer", said at about 9.15pm that night he was with his friend Craig Byrne, who had picked him up from where he parked his van on Aspes Road.

He said they went to Mr Byrne's house, on Snowberry Road, where they went into his spare bedroom to count about £10,000 in cash.

Cashman added: "We counted money then went downstairs, I done myself a spliff in the kitchen, went in the back garden and was having just a general chit-chat with Craig."

He said when he later went into the front garden he could hear sirens and was told by someone there were "police everywhere".

Olivia Pratt-Korbel
Olivia Pratt-Korbel. Picture: Alamy

Earlier in the trial, the jury heard from a woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, who had a fling with Cashman, a father of two with a partner of 22 years.

She claimed he went to her house after the shooting where he changed his clothes and she heard him saying he had "done Joey".

Asked if at any stage he did confess, Cashman said: "No, I did not, she's trying to ruin my life.

"She is trying to ruin my life because, for one thing, I won't leave my partner for her. There's loads of reasons."

Cashman also claims the woman's boyfriend owed him a £25,000 drug debt so she wanted him "out of the way".

He told the jury: "She's ruined my life, what she said, she has done to me, what she's doing, what she's done, she's ruined my life."

Prosecutors allege Cashman walked and travelled in his van around the area ahead of a plan to find Nee and execute a "hit".

But Cashman denied his movements showed he was planning the alleged hit on Nee and were instead to do with his cannabis dealing.

He said his various movements were to do with him dropping off drugs and collecting money at various addresses in Dovecot and sometimes "socialising" by having a spliff with friends.

Mr Cooper said: "It's suggested that the purpose of your movements were not for the reason you say, but either for the reason of executing a hit or planning a hit?"

Cashman replied: "No, that's not true whatsoever. What you see here is typical of a local lad who sells cannabis in the area."

Under cross-examination, the defendant accepted he made up to £250,000 a year from selling cannabis but refused to reveal who he bought it from or sold it to.

He said: "I'm getting stitched up for murder of a child that I did not commit. I didn't do it."

Cashman, of Grenadier Drive, Liverpool, denies the murder of Olivia, the attempted murder of Nee, wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm to Olivia's mother, and two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

The trial continues.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Keir Starmer

Keir Starmer pledges £3.5 million to support homeless veterans ahead of Remembrance Sunday

Donald Trump was inaugurated for the first time in January 2017

Which musical artists could perform at Trump's inauguration in January 2025?

Donald Trump has said he has no choice but to launch mass deportations

Trump says US 'has no choice but to deport illegal immigrants' en masse, as he starts to build top team

Prince William said the past year has been 'brutal'

Prince William says past year has been 'probably the hardest in his life' after Charles and Kate's cancer diagnoses

Ian Botham was saved from the crocodile by his former rival Merv Hughes

Ian Botham saved from crocodiles by former Australian cricket rival after falling into remote river

Sara Sharif was found dead

Sara Sharif’s ‘evil’ stepmum tied her up with packaging tape, father tells court

Three people have been charged in connection with the death of One Direction star Liam Payne

Three people charged in connection with death of One Direction star Liam Payne after he fell from hotel balcony

Mohammed Aslam and Mohammed Nazir have been jailed for their involvement in the 'hitwoman in a hijab' plot

Father and son jailed after hiring 'hitwoman in a hijab' for botched revenge killing in Birmingham

Kira Rudyk has warned against Trump's 'illusion' of negotiating with Putin over Ukraine

Putin congratulates 'brave' Trump on election victory as Ukrainian MP warns against 'illusion' of peace negotiations

Women are swearing off men following Donald Trump's election win.

American women are swearing off sex with men after Donald Trump's election victory

The HS2 chairman has defended the £100m cost of a bat shed

HS2 facing backlash after cost of 'bat shed' exceeds £100m

Exclusive
Andrew Bailey has warned against the fragmentation of the global economy

'Tariffs can fracture the global economy': Bank of England governor warns against trade barriers after Trump win

Two women were arrested after locking themselves to the Scottish Parliament in a climate protest

Climate activists arrested after locking on to Scottish Parliament

Gary Neville has been forced to close his Michelin star restaurant

Gary Neville's restaurant forced into liquidation with £1m debts

President Joe Biden addressed the nation for the first time since the election

Biden pledges 'peaceful transition of power' as he promises to work with Trump in last days of administration

Dylan Willis who has been freed by the Court of Appeal

Teenager jailed after unrest to be released as court of appeal alters sentence