'I miss my baby sister': Read Olivia Pratt-Korbel's family statements

The family of Liverpool schoolgirl Olivia Pratt-Korbel have told a court of their heartbreak during the sentencing of her killer.

Thomas Cashman, 34, received a whole life sentence with a minimum term of 42 years at Manchester Crown Court on Monday.

He was found guilty last week of murdering the nine-year-old and the wounding with intent of her mother Cheryl Korbel, 46, as he chased convicted drug dealer Joseph Nee into their home in the Dovecot area of the city on August 22 last year.

Read the family's statements below. 

John Pratt, Olivia's father: 'I have nightmares about how she died'

Olivia's father John Pratt told the court: "I have been asked to do the impossible and put into words how the murder of my beautiful daughter has affected me. No words can make you understand the pain I’m feeling. My heart has been forever broken by your actions.

"You took the decision to shoot into Olivia’s home with no regard to who was there. I want you to know you have changed my life forever. We will never be a whole family again. You did that to us."

Mr Pratt moved away from Liverpool for a short period. “It was a constant reminder of the loss of my beautiful daughter,” he said.

On August 21, the day before her death, Mr Pratt saw his daughter for the first time in nearly two years, due to the Covid pandemic.

"Little did I know that was the day before her death," Mr Pratt said.

Olivia asked her father: "Dad did you have a shave just for me today?"

"I replied yes, just for you. The next day she was ripped away from me."

Mr Pratt continued: "I have nightmares about how she died, and the nightmares won't go away."

He added: "Every day they remind me of Olivia and what I have lost. Those four girls and my two older daughters are the only reason I’m still here.

"Each day I feel completely overwhelmed and I don’t know how I’ll cope. I can’t stay at my home. It’s a constant reminder of the loss of Olivia.

"I want to visit Olivia and sometimes sit outside the cemetery. If I go inside, it will all seem real. My heart is broken every time I hear Olivia’s name on the television.

"Olivia will never call me dad again. All I want is my baby back and roasting marshmallows as I promised her the last time I saw her.

"I will never get to keep this promise or give her the Christmas presents I bought her. She will never get the opportunity to fall in love and have her own children.

"I will never get the opportunity to see my daughter on her wedding day. Most of all, I’ll never get to see her grow into the beautiful woman she was destined to become.

"We have been robbed of her future and the amazing teenager and adult she was destined to become. She will be forever nine."

Chloe, Olivia's sister: 'I lost my best friend'

Reading her statement to the court, Olivia's sister Chloe, 18, said: "Our precious little Olivia was born June 13 2013, five days after my birthday.

"It was the best present I’ve ever received. I knew I would always protect and look after her. She was the best friend I’d always wanted. She was such a clever kid, beyond her years."

Chloe added: "August 22 2022 was the worst day of my life, the day my Olivia was taken away from us.

"Not only did I lose my baby sister but I lost my best friend. When I was told she passed away I felt as though my heart had stopped beating.

"A piece of me left with her that night and since then I have felt as though I am in a nightmare I can't wake up from.

"My family and I are living in a real-life tragedy. This is all because of selfish people thinking it’s ok to carry guns and putting innocent people at risk. I miss my baby sister, I miss my best friend.

“I miss sharing my bedroom with her and hearing her talk all the time. I am beyond grateful to have had nine years of Olivia. I will keep those memories forever."

Cheryl Korbel, Olivia's mum: 'I was the first person to hold my baby girl and I should have been the last'

Cheryl Korbel, 46, read a statement to the court, taking a teddy which was made from Olivia's pyjamas into the witness box with her.

She said the nine-year-old had been due to have her hair cut five days after her death and wanted to donate 12 inches of hair to the Princess Trust "for sick kids to have beautiful wigs".

She described her daughter as a "girly girl" who "had her own style".

Ms Korbel said as her other two children, Ryan and Chloe, became older, Olivia spent most of her time with her mother.

She added: "She was nicknamed my shadow."

She told the court Olivia was always talking.

She said: "One thing I miss the most is hearing her say 'mum'. I just miss hearing her voice. It's just so quiet. I would do and give anything in the world to hear her chatting to me."

Ms Korbel described returning to the family home after Olivia's death.

She said: "Right in that moment I was home, we were back to how our lives were before that night and I soaked up the surroundings until reality dawned and brought me back to my living nightmare."

She said she was unable to give CPR to Olivia properly because she had been injured.

She added: "My worst nightmare was being separated from Liv, not being with her when she needed me the most.

"I was the first person to hold my baby girl and as her mum I should have been the last.

"I cannot get my head around how Cashman continued to shoot after hearing the terrified screams and utter devastation he had caused.

"He doesn't care. His actions have left the biggest hole in our lives.

"That man set out to do a job and he didn't care about anyone else or who got in the way. He certainly couldn't own it either."

Ms Korbel said her grandmother had been admitted to hospital recently and a couple of weeks ago was brought home for end-of-life care.

She told the court she "held out long enough to hear that coward had been found guilty" but passed away last night.

She said Olivia would never get to make her Holy Communion, wear a prom dress or have a 16th birthday party.

She said: "All that promise for her future so cruelly taken away.

"Now I have to drive to the cemetery to be close to my baby daughter.

"I tell her she will live on in my heart, she will always be with us. My little shadow."