Man accused of Olivia murder tells trial he was smoking cannabis with a friend at time of shooting

The man accused of murdering Olivia Pratt-Korbel has told a court he was smoking cannabis and counting money at a friend’s house at the time she was fatally shot.

Thomas Cashman, who denies killing the nine-year-old in Liverpool in August last year, also told jurors: “I’m a dad, I’m not a killer.”

The 34-year-old is charged with murdering Olivia, who was fatally shot during when a gunman opened fire while chasing convicted drug dealer Joseph Nee into her and her mother’s home.

Her mother, Cheryl Korbel, was also injured. Cashman denies being the gunman.

Cashman, who has admitted being a “high-level cannabis dealer”, told jurors on Wednesday that he was with a friend, Craig Byrne, on the night Olivia was killed.

He told the court he went to Mr Byrne’s house, where together they counted around £10,000 in cash in his spare room.

Cashman added: “We counted money, then went downstairs. I done myself a spliff in the kitchen, went in the back garden and was having just a general chit-chat with Craig.”

He said when he later went into the front garden he could hear sirens and was told by someone there were “police everywhere”.

Cashman, giving evidence for a second day, denied being involved in the shooting.

Asked by John Cooper KC, defending, if he had committed any of the offences he was accused of, the father-of-two said: “No, I did not. I am getting the blame for something I haven’t done.

“I’m getting blamed for killing a child and I have got my own children. I’m a dad, I’m not a killer.”

Earlier in the trial, the jury heard from a woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, who had a fling with Cashman.

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

Asked if at any stage he did confess, Cashman said: “No, I did not, she’s trying to ruin my life.”

Prosecutors allege Cashman walked and travelled in his van around the area ahead of a plan to find Nee and execute a “hit”.

However, Cashman said his movements were related to his drug dealing.

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Mr Cooper said: “It’s suggested that the purpose of your movements were not for the reason you say, but either for the reason of executing a hit or planning a hit?”

Cashman replied: “No, that’s not true whatsoever. What you see here is typical of a local lad who sells cannabis in the area.”

Cashman denies the murder of Olivia, the attempted murder of Nee, wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm to Olivia’s mother, and two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

The trial will continue on Thursday.

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