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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Adam Everett & Lottie Gibbons & Jonathan Humphries

Olivia Pratt-Korbel scooped up in 'blood-stained pyjamas' by police officer

Olivia Pratt-Korbel was scooped up by a police officer wearing her blood-stained pyjamas after she was shot in her own home, a court has heard.

Thomas Cashman, 34, of Grenadier Drive in West Derby, is currently standing trial charged with the nine-year-old's murder after she was shot dead inside her own home on Kingsheath Avenue in Dovecot.

A bullet fired by a gunman who was allegedly in pursuit of intended target Joseph Nee hit her mum Cheryl in the hand and then struck the schoolgirl in the chest on the evening of August 22 2022.

READ MORE: Thomas Cashman trial updates as Olivia Pratt-Korbel's brother says 'I was helpless'

A jury at Manchester Crown Square Crown Court was told today how after arriving at the scene of the shooting, Matrix firearms officer PC Daniel Cooper picked Olivia up into his arms and took her to hospital.

In a statement, PC Cooper said: "As I approached the open door, it was well lit by lighting inside the house. The front door was open and led into a small hallway and then stairs directly opposite the door.

“I could see a female sat with an obvious injury to her hand at the top of the stairs, crying and shouting hysterically.

“I noticed the feet and lower legs of a child, her sock stained red from what I assumed was blood. On the landing lay a small child.

“Olivia was lay on her back with her pyjamas on, also stained with blood."

PC Cooper said as he bent down to pick Olivia up, he noticed how her lips were blue and her body was limp. He said at that point, he knew she required urgent medical attention.

He said: "I immediately noticed a small bullet entry wound to her chest area. My initial thought was we needed more room to help Olivia… As I bent down to pick her up I noticed her eyes were open and her gaze was staring into nothing. Her lips were blue. Her body was limp.

“It is then I decided Olivia needed immediate medical attention far beyond what I could offer. I picked Olivia up into my arms and carried her down the stairs.”

He told his colleague PC Claire Metcalf “we needed to go straight to hospital”. They then took Olivia to hospital. She was pronounced dead in hospital a short time later.

Cashman has pleaded not guilty to murdering Olivia, the attempted murder of Joseph Nee and wounding Cheryl Korbel with intent. He also denies two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, namely a 9mm self-loading handgun and a 0.3 calibre revolver.

The trial continues.

READ NEXT:

Olivia Pratt-Korbel's mum breaks down as she says 'I couldn't shut the door'

Eyewitnesses heard 'worst screams ever' as dying Olivia Pratt-Korbel carried out of house

Thomas Cashman's five-word reply after he was arrested over Olivia's murder

Thomas Cashman said 'I've done Joey' after Olivia shooting, murder trial hears

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