Olivia Pratt-Korbel: CPS authorises murder charge
Senior Crown Prosecutor Maria Corr of CPS Mersey-Cheshire’s Complex Casework Unit said: “The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised Merseyside Police to charge Thomas Cashman, 34, with the murder of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel and the attempted murder of Joseph Nee and Cheryl Korbel on 22 August 2022.
“He has also been charged with two counts of possession of a firearm to endanger life.
“We have further authorised the police to charge Paul Russell, 40, with assisting an offender.
“Prosecutors from CPS Mersey-Cheshire’s Complex Casework Unit authorised the charges following a review of a file of evidence received from Merseyside Police.
“The defendants’ first court appearance will take place at Liverpool Magistrates' Court on Monday 3 October 2022.
“Our thoughts are with Olivia Pratt-Korbel’s family at this time.
“The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings against the defendants are active and that they have a right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”
Notes to editors
• Thomas Cashman, 34, has been charged with the murder of Olivia Pratt-Korbel, two counts of attempted murder, and one count of possession of a firearm to endanger life.
• Paul Russell, 40, has been charged with assisting an offender.
• Maria Corr is a Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS Mersey-Cheshire’s Complex Casework Unit.
• The function of the CPS is not to decide whether a person is guilty of a criminal offence, but to make fair, independent, and objective assessments about whether it is appropriate to present charges for a criminal court to consider.
• The CPS assessment of any case is not in any sense a finding of, or implication of, any guilt or criminal conduct. It is not a finding of fact, which can only be made by a court, but rather an assessment of what it might be possible to prove to a court, in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors.