Man jailed for helping the killer of Olivia Pratt-Korbel

A man has been jailed for 22 months for helping the gunman who shot dead nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel in Liverpool last year.

Paul Russell, 41, pleaded guilty at Liverpool Crown Court in October, to assisting Thomas Cashman who was jailed for 42 years last month for the murder of Olivia in her home last August.

Russell, of Snowberry Road, West Derby, Liverpool, admitted giving Cashman a lift in his car after the shooting and disposing of a bag, which contained the clothing worn by Cashman at the time of the shooting, by taking it to another address.

Cashman had gone to Russell’s home after the killing and was overheard to say he had “done Joey”. This was thought to be a reference to his attempt to murder rival Joseph Nee. Cashman was trying to cover his tracks and asked Russell to help him get him away from the scene and help him get rid of clothing.

Russell later told police he was terrified of Cashman. His guilty plea could not be reported until after the trial of Cashman, who was found guilty of Olivia’s murder last month.

Thomas Cashman shot Olivia at about 10pm when he chased Joseph Nee into Olivia’s home in Kingsheath Avenue, firing through the door and also injuring her mother, Cheryl Korbel.

Senior Crown Prosecutor Kelly Ward of CPS Mersey-Cheshire’s Complex Casework Unit, said: “Paul Russell helped Thomas Cashman in the immediate aftermath of the killing and for that he has been sentenced.

“His early guilty plea helped with the prosecution case and the eventual conviction of Cashman and he has shown remorse for his part in these dreadful events.

“The family of Olivia have now seen Cashman and Russell brought to justice for what they did. Thomas Cashman, a callous killer, set out on that fateful night with two loaded guns and took them onto a residential street.

“He has been jailed for life and must serve a minimum of 42 years before he can even be considered for release. And now Paul Russell has been given his sentence.

“This ends a complex and sensitive case for the Crown Prosecution Service which shocked a nation. Our thoughts remain with Olivia’s family.”