August 21st 2023.
Cheryl Korbel, mother of Olivia Pratt-Korbel, has been reflecting on the huge impact her daughter has had on the community in the year since her death. Her daughter, who was tragically murdered at just nine years old, was remembered as "cheeky" and "loved life". Thomas Cashman had chased convicted drug dealer Joseph Nee into her family home in Dovecot, Liverpool, and fired a shot which hit and killed Olivia.
Ms Korbel is determined to keep her daughter's memory alive, saying she was her "sassy little princess" who "loved dancing". Her cousin, Antonia Elverson, added that they had been blessed with an amazing nine years with her, and that they will carry her memory with them forever.
Thomas Cashman has since been jailed for Olivia's murder and to commemorate her life, a garden has been created in Court Hey Park in Knowsley featuring a butterfly mosaic and will be used for schoolchildren workshops. Ms Korbel said it was "lovely" and that the children are eagerly anticipating coming back in September to start the workshops.
The last year has been a difficult one for Ms Korbel, who has felt "numb" yet cherishes the support from family and friends. Though she feels like Olivia's death was "yesterday", she plans to constantly mention her name on the first anniversary of her murder.
Olivia's death was one of three fatal shootings within a week in Liverpool last August. Ms Elverson commented that gun crime had been "out of control" and added that no one would have expected them to be living that nightmare just 24 hours after Ashley's death.
The tragedy of Olivia's death was made even more heartbreaking when it was revealed that seconds before the fatal shot was fired, Olivia had run to her mother screaming "I'm scared mummy, I'm scared". Cashman had "ruthlessly pursued" his intended target Nee into the Korbel family home and the bullet went through the front door, through Ms Korbel's right hand and into Olivia's chest.
The families of Olivia, Ashley and Sam have been left with life sentences and Ms Korbel urged people to take action to ensure no other family has to go through the same tragedy.
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