Thomas Cashman, the man accused of murdering nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel in Liverpool last August, is innocent, an alibi witness has told Manchester Crown Court.

Nicky McHale told a jury he saw Cashman, 34, smoking cannabis in a garden around the time of the shooting at about 10pm on August 22.

Mr McHale, 32, said he had been watching football on TV at home on Snowberry Road, Dovecot, and when the match had finished he went outside to smoke a cigarette.

While he stood at his front door, Mr McHale told the jury, he looked across the road and saw Cashman smoking cannabis in the front garden of the house opposite.

The pair spoke briefly about the football match, Mr McHale said, before he went back inside his home.

Mr McHale’s evidence was challenged by the prosecution’s barrister, David McLachlan KC, who asked the witness: “Why are you here Mr McHale?”

Mr McHale, who was giving evidence from behind a screen, said: “Because I know Thomas Cashman is innocent.”

Mr McLachlan continued: “Been put up to being here?”

“No, I’m not,” the witness replied.

Cashman is charged with murdering Olivia, who was fatally shot when a gunman opened fire while chasing convicted drug dealer Joseph Nee into her and her mother’s home.

Read more:
Man accused of murder tells court he was smoking ‘a spliff’ with a friend at time of shooting
Olivia Pratt-Korbel’s mother walks out of court as Cashman denies being gunman
Brother recounts moment gunman tried to force his way into family home

Cashman is alleged to have shot Nee, 36, in the street, before Nee fled into Olivia’s home as her mother Cheryl Korbel tried to block his entry.

Cashman is then accused of firing again, the bullet hitting Ms Korbel in the hand, then hitting and killing her daughter, who was standing behind her.

After the shooting, Cashman is alleged to have gone to the house of a woman he had a fling with and changed his clothes.

Earlier in the trial, the jury heard from the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

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

However, Mr McHale said after seeing Cashman across the road the defendant was later in his house to smoke more cannabis and asked for a drink.

He did not have any in the house, so used Cashman’s van to go to a local shop to buy some, his trip being caught on CCTV.

Earlier Mr McHale said he had never given evidence in court before and his only previous conviction was for possession with intent to supply £4,000 worth of cannabis.

Cashman has admitted being a “high-level” cannabis dealer, making up to £5,000 a week in drug money, but denies he was the gunman who shot Olivia dead.

The trial continues.

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