The trial of Thomas Cashman, who is accused of murdering nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel, is due to continue for a second week.
The schoolgirl died after being shot in the chest in her own home on Kingsheath Avenue in Dovecot on the evening of August 22 last year. Cashman, aged 34 and of Grenadier Drive in West Derby, denies any involvement in the shooting.
The second week of the trial is scheduled to begin at Manchester Crown Square Crown Court this morning, Monday. The ECHO will be providing live updates from the courtroom as the case resumes.
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The court heard during the prosecution's opening on Tuesday last week that an armed man had been "relentlessly pursuing" Joseph Nee shortly before 10pm on August 22 last year after approaching him and a man called Paul Abraham from behind and firing shots at his "target" with a 9mm self-loading pistol. Nee - who had been watching the Liverpool v Manchester United game with friends including Mr Abraham at a house on Finch Lane - was struck in the midriff and fell to the ground, but may have been saved when the gun appeared to "malfunction" as the gunman stood over him.
He was then able to scramble to his feet and ran towards the Korbel family home, where he barged through the partially open front door. The assailant however, had a second firearm - a revolver - and continued to give chase, firing a further two shots with this weapon.
One of these 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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