‘Gunman’ Thomas Cashman sobs ‘I’m a dad, not a killer’ as he denies murdering Olivia Pratt-Korbel, 9
A MAN accused of shooting dead a nine-year-old girl today sobbed as he told jurors: “I’m a dad, not a killer”.
Olivia Pratt-Korbel was killed after a gunman chased convicted drug dealer Joseph Nee into her home in Liverpool.
The youngster’s mum Cheryl Korbel, 46, was also injured in the horror on August 22 last year.
Thomas Cashman, who denies murder, continued his evidence at Manchester Crown Court today.
The 34-year-old became tearful as he claimed he had been “stitched up” over Olivia’s death.
Cashman added: “I am getting the blame for something I haven’t done.
“I didn’t do it and I’m getting the blame for it.
“I’m getting blamed for killing a child and I have got my own children.
“I’m a dad, I’m not a killer, I’m a dad.
“I’m getting blamed for something I haven’t done.”
Cashman, who has admitted being a “high-level cannabis dealer”, told jurors that at the time of the shooting, he was counting around £10,000 in cash with a friend called Craig Byrne.
He claimed he made a “spliff” in Craig’s kitchen then went into the back garden to have a “general chit-chat” with his pal.
Cashman said when he later went in the front garden, he could hear sirens and was told there were “police everywhere”.
The alleged gunman also claimed today a woman who said she heard him confess was “trying to ruin his life” because he won’t leave his partner for her.
He said her boyfriend owed him a £25,000 drug debt so she wanted him “out of the way”.
But she in turn claims Cashman went to her home after the shooting to change his clothes where she heard him saying he had “done Joey”.
He told the court if he had gone there that night, he would have been caught on CCTV.
Cashman added: “I’m not a magician, I can’t just magically disappear.”
Jurors also heard about his movements on the day Olivia was killed after he was picked up on CCTV and doorbell cameras.
Prosecutors allege Cashman walked and travelled in his van around the area ahead of a plan to find Nee and execute a “hit”.
But he insists the movements were instead to do with a “typical” day selling cannabis – including dropping off drugs and collecting money at various addresses.
He said: “What you see here is typical of a local lad who sells cannabis in the area.”
Cashman denies murder, the attempted murder of Nee, wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm to Olivia’s mother, and two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.
The trial continues.