I watched the Olivia Pratt-Korbel and Ashley Dale documentary but had to turn it off

When a colleague recently brought up the topic of an upcoming Channel 4 documentary into the murders of Olivia Pratt-Korbel and Ashley Dale, it was certainly something that piqued my interest. Myself and then ECHO crime correspondent Jonathan Humphries were in court for every moment of the trials which followed in the wake of two fatal shootings that shocked the city, and indeed the nation.

These are the sort of cases that stay with you forever, both professionally and personally. There was therefore a natural curiosity as to how Merseyside Detectives, the new four-part series, would tackle two simultaneously intertwined but essentially unrelated tragedies, and whether the programme would shed any new light upon them.

What I found was a deeply emotive but sensitively handled reflection on some of the darkest days in Merseyside's history which also offered fresh insights into the investigations, even for those who would consider themselves well clued up. Having covered the trials of Thomas Cashman and Niall Barry, Sean Zeisz, James Witham and Joseph Peers extensively, these are my five key takeaways from the show.

Harrowing viewing from the crime scenes

From the very off, Merseyside Detectives delivers a gut punch which will leave even the hardest of hearts floored. The series' first episode opens with footage taken from the body worn cameras of the first officers to attend the scene of the murder of Ashley Dale inside her own home on Leinster Road in Old Swan.

It is the smallest of details in this clip that are the most affecting, whether they be the television set remaining on in the front room or a happy birthday balloon floating within the dining room. Then, of course, there is the image of the victim's pet Dachshund, Darla, cowering in a corner and being comforted by one of the responders.

Later on in the same episode, the viewer is similarly shown body worn camera footage from the scene of the shooting of Olivia Pratt-Korbel at the family home on Kingsheath Avenue in Dovecot. This was never seen during Cashman's trial, and it is truly harrowing viewing.

It shows the moment one of the police officers scoops the gravely injured child up in her arms and places her in the back of a patrol car as a colleague speeds through the streets towards the nearby Alder Hey Children's Hospital. Utter desperation can be heard in the voice of the female PC as she seeks to soothe Olivia, saying: "I've got you lovely. Ok lovely. Hey, can you hear me? Come on lovely. Come on."

Later, we see the schoolgirl's distraught mum Cheryl Korbel giving an interview to the police. Pictured with her right arm in plaster, having been shot herself during the horrific incident, she says: "We weren't sure whether it was fireworks or gunshots. I jumped up and went outside, and as I looked down the street to my left I just seen one fella running up towards me.

"I realised at that point it was gunshots, because it looked like the other one was running after him. So I run back in the house and I heard him saying 'please lad, don't' and I shut the door quick. He was trying to push it open. I tried my best to keep it shut until I got shot."

The mother became tearful and dabbed her eyes with a tissue as she added: "I realised that must have been when she was hit. I was just screaming 'please Liv, stay with me'."

Coming shortly before the second ad break of the hour-long premiere, I personally had to turn the TV off following this segment. While utterly engrossing, the programme was truly emotionally draining at times - in particular during this first episode - and it took me until the following day before I was able to return to the documentary.

Even now, it is hard to believe that all of this happened. It can only be hoped that it is a nightmare that will never be repeated.

Joey Nee's account of the shooting

Joseph Nee, the intended target of the shooting which killed Olivia Pratt-Korbel, was never called as a witness during the trial and has never previously given any account of the incident publicly. However, during episode one, his version of events was aired for the first time.

This came via a third party, with one detective reporting during a police briefing that Nee was spoken to as he lay seriously injured in a hospital bed. This came after he had been driven to and carried into Whiston Hospital by his associates.

Of the visit, the officer said: "The first thing he asked me was 'is it true that the girl has died?'. I confirmed that with him, and he did start crying in his hospital bed.

"He stated that he was in the Bunker pub watching the Liverpool game, Man United. He said he left the pub after the game and just started making his way back towards his home address.

"Then, all of a sudden, he said he's felt an immediate pain through his entire body. He said he's run away and has made his way to the first thing he's saw, which was an open door just over the road.

"The person with the gun has continued to shoot at him and put his arm through the door and has shot. He states he's absolutely no idea who the shooter is, what it's over. He claims that he wants to help the investigation, but when I asked if he'll give me a statement as to what he's said he then refused, saying he doesn't want to be known as a grass or bring any retribution to his door."

It was heard during Cashman's trial that Nee in fact watched the football match at a friend's house on nearby Finch Lane rather than at the "Bunker", or Dovecot Labour Club. Detective Superintendent Mark Baker told the documentary crew of Nee's lack of cooperation: "Not impressed with that really, let's be honest. Yeah, really dim view of that really. I understand he's going to be fearful, but."

What happened to the guns used to shoot Olivia?

What happened to the two guns used in the shooting which left Olivia Pratt-Korbel dead remains a mystery, with the firearms having never been recovered. However, in episode two, a theory was advanced by detectives which was never touted during Cashman's trial last year.

This concerned an apparent exchange with a cyclist on Princess Drive in the aftermath of the attack. During a briefing, one officer said during a discussion with his colleagues: "CCTV examination has shown that, on the night in question, the gunman has made his way to the area of Princess Drive. What we know then is, he's contacted two men who are by the shops.

"These men make their way over to him. The gunman can be seen crouching down between two vehicles before crossing over Princess Drive. The males on the bikes cross over Princess Drive, clearly engage in some sort of conversation with the gunman and one of them returns in between the two vehicles where he spends about 20 seconds out of sight, off the bike and presumably on his hands and knees.

"He then re-emerges, crosses over the road and cycles down Princess Drive. We believe that he's taken the guns that were used in the murder of Olivia and moved them from the gunman in the area of Princess Drive and took them to a safehouse. These two weapons are probably the hottest property, in terms of criminal property, in the UK at this moment in time. This could be the single largest influencing factor in getting a conviction on this job."

Armed police were then shown executing a search warrant at the cyclist's address and the neighbouring property of an "associate". Footage showed a shirtless man being forced to his knees and led out of property in handcuffs, after which he was taken to St Anne Street Police Station.

He was then quizzed over this "conversation with the gunman". Footage from his interview was played during the documentary, although his face was not seen. Detectives asked him: "You've taken something from the gunman, you've taken a weapon from him. Is that true? Is that what you've done? Was that prearranged, that you would do that?

"Is that your bike? Have you borrowed it off someone? Do you deny that's you? Would you say that's you? Had you arranged to be there to assist the person who killed Olivia? Have you hidden the gun that was used to kill Olivia? Where's that gun now?"

To all of these questions, the man answered no comment. He was then played a video of Olivia's mum Cheryl Korbel appealing for members of the public to come forward with information regarding the shooting. Of this, he said: "It's disgusting, watching stuff like that, but I don't know anything about it. I've got nothing to say. It's no comment mate."

His solicitor then remarked: "One more matter of emotional distress to my client, which is bordering on duress of my client. I will walk out of this interview." The man was then further asked: "How do you feel about the death of Olivia? Would you want that person to be caught?"

But the suspect again replied "no comment". Detective Superintendent Mark Baker told cameras after the male was released on bail: "I'm going to be honest, I'm frustrated. He's sat there in silence. I know he's entitled to his silence of course, however he's sat there not answering any questions [which is] really frustrating for the investigation.

"We don't know he knew that a murder had taken place. We've searched his house. Sadly, we've not recovered any firearms.

"We know that the gunman will trust a very small group of people, particularly in the aftermath. They're the people we're appealing to. We recognise that they will be really scared.

"They will perceive to kill once, they will be prepared to kill again - particularly if they're to speak out. We're saying to members of the community, this is the death of a nine-year-old girl. This is one case in your life when you need to be able to look in the mirror and say, I've done the right thing."

'Untouchable' Cashman flouted bail conditions after murder arrest

Over the course of episode three, the net closes in on Cashman after a witness comes forward to tell the police that he had visited her house immediately after the shooting and apparently confessed that he had "done Joey". This led to his arrest on his 34th birthday, September 4 2022, at a block of flats at the Decks in Runcorn.

He was however later released on bail under conditions which included a ban on entering Merseyside. But members of the community then reported to Merseyside Police that Cashman was seen cycling around the Dovecot area once at large again.

CCTV footage showed him on a push bike wearing a cap and riding down a residential street, with the ECHO having previously reported that this came on the day of the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on September 8. Discussing the reports with a colleague, one detective surmises: "Maybe he wants the community to see him. He wants to continue to instil fear. I'm still doing what I want."

The officers then consider whether or not to arrest Cashman for breaching his bail conditions. This sparks a member of the documentary crew to ask: "Do you think he feels untouchable?

A second detective replies: "Oh yeah. Definitely, yeah. He thinks he runs them streets, sees himself as some sort of Robin Hood character. We've even heard around times with covid and times when there was restrictions on, he was going out in the community, going to shops, going to butchers. He was buying food items for people that were struggling in the area.

"It reminds you almost of gangsters in the old days, like Capone, where they'd stand at the end of trucks and throw food to people. That's almost like what you get from him. But all them people have got that other side to them where, if you get on the wrong side of them, it's very different."

Stand off at the charging desk

The scenes of Cashman being held in custody for questioning were among Merseyside Detectives' tensest. He was captured swearing at police officers and making hand gestures towards the onlooking cameras during his two stints being held in a police station.

It all ultimately culminates in the moment he is charged with Olivia Pratt-Korbel's murder, a responsibility taken on by DS Baker personally. Both men eyeball each other at the charging desk in scenes reminiscent of an old western stand off, with the suited detective saying: "Thomas Cashman, I've come to charge you. Ok?"

Cashman, wearing a grey t-shirt, protests: "You're charging someone who's innocent. I've done nothing wrong."

DS Baker then continues: "Ok. I'm gonna charge you with the following offence. On the 22nd of August at Kingsheath Avenue, Liverpool, Merseyside, you murdered Olivia Pratt-Korbel."

Cashman replies "I didn't, no I didn't". After being charged with the attempted murder of Joseph Nee and Cheryl Korbel, he adds: "No, I didn't. I didn't do none of them offences." DS Baker, in turn, looks him dead in the eye for one final time and says "we will see you in court". Cashman responds: "Yeah, we will. To clear my name."

He was ultimately convicted of all three charges and jailed for life with a minimum term of 42 years. Barry, Zeisz, Witham and Peers are similarly all now serving life sentences, having been found guilty of the murder of Ashley Dale.