A man has been charged with the murder of Liverpool resident Olivia Pratt-Korbel, who was shot in her home.
The nine-year-old was fatally wounded as her mother attempted to prevent a shooter from pursuing another guy inside their home from entering.
Thomas Cashman, 34, of West Derby, Liverpool, is also charged with the attempted murders of Cheryl Korbel, the mother of Olivia, and Joseph Nee.
He was remanded into jail and will appear at 14:00 BST at Liverpool Crown Court.
Olivia was shot in the chest, and her mother was injured, after convicted burglar, Mr. Nee was chased into their Dovecot, 22-Aug-2012, house.
In court were Olivia’s parents, police officers, and more than twenty members of the media.
Mr. Cashman of Grenadier Drive, whose head was bowed throughout the proceedings, is additionally charged with two counts of having a handgun with the intent to endanger life.
During the approximately 10-minute hearing, he was restrained in the dock and surrounded by four police officers.
Paul Russell, age 40, also appeared in court on the allegation of helping a criminal.
Mr. Russell, of Snowberry Road, West Derby, was said to have aided Mr. Cashman by driving him away from the scene and disposing of garments, according to court testimony.
He was remanded into jail to appear on October 31 at Liverpool Crown Court.
On September 15, Olivia’s burial was held at a full St. Margaret Mary’s Church, only blocks from where the shooting occurred.
Those who attended the funeral wore pink ties, jackets, scarves, and bows after her family requested that attendees wear a “splash of pink.”
Ms. Korbel carried a pink teddy bear into the event and stated in her eulogy that her daughter “touched the hearts of so many people and was treasured by all”
