The man who allegedly murdered nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel was “lying in wait” for his intended target on the evening she was shot, a court has been told.

Olivia was killed on 22 August last year as a gunman chased convicted burglar Joseph Nee into her home. Her mother, Cheryl Korbel, 46, was injured in the shooting.

Thomas Cashman, 34, is on trial for her murder, which he denies.

He had two loaded firearms in his possession on 22 August last year and was waiting for Mr Nee, who was “without doubt the intended target”, David McLachlan KC, for the prosecution, said.

Mr McLachlan said Mr Nee was watching a football match at the house of Timothy Naylor in Dovecot, Liverpool, and when he left the house at around 10pm another person ran after him.

The jury was shown CCTV stills of the person following Mr Nee, who the prosecution say is Cashman.

Mr McLachlan said: “This is what this case is all about. This is serious business, as you will appreciate.

Olivia Pratt-Korbel: Trial of man accused of murdering nine-year-old in Liverpool begins today

Olivia Pratt-Korbel: Jurors in murder trial told not to be influenced by their emotions

Olivia Pratt-Korbel: Man, 34, appears in court charged with murder

“It is about the ruthless pursuit by Thomas Cashman to shoot Joseph Nee at all costs without any consideration for anyone else in the community.

“Such was the planning and ruthless nature of this attack that Thomas Cashman, we say, went armed and was in possession of two loaded firearms.

“When, in all likelihood one of them failed, he simply turned to the other one to execute, literally, his plan.

“Thomas Cashman’s actions resulted in Joseph Nee being injured, Cheryl Korbel being injured and, most tragically of all in this case, Olivia Pratt-Korbel being killed.”

Related posts:

UK set to shift target for reducing emissions ahead of world leaders summit UK records 37,314 more coronavirus cases and 114 deaths, daily figures show Princess Beatrice ‘so delighted’ after giving birth to a daughter Under-12s rugby player cruelly trolled heading to final at Twickenham after support from game’s biggest stars Fancy 20 hours in the air? Non-stop Sydney to London route to be world’s longest flight Three people killed in car crash in Cornwall Boris Johnson narrowly survives confidence vote – but suffers significant Tory rebellion Three generations of women among first to say goodbye to Queen Heading to Cornwall? Take your own medicine, travellers told GP surgery accidentally texts patients they have ‘aggressive lung cancer’ Chaos in Aldi supermarkets after brief sale of new drink promoted by YouTubers Virtual hospital wards no substitute for real people, says patient waiting for hip operation