Olivia Pratt-Korbel: Killer's sentence will not be increased
The Solicitor General will not refer it to the Court of Appeal
Last updated 15th May 2023
The man responsible for the murder of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel in Liverpool last August will not have his sentence increased.
The Solicitor General says he'd been asked to consider Thomas Cashman's minimum jail term of 42 years.
Michael Tomlinson KC says the incident "sickened the nation" but that there were no grounds to refer sentencing to the Court of Appeal.
Cashman fatally shot Olivia as he opened fire at someone else and was later jailed for life
A number of requests were made though for his minimum jail term to be increased
34-year-old Cashman from West Derby murdered the schoolgirl in her own home last August.
He was found guilty by a jury at Manchester Crown Court after chasing a convicted drug dealer into the Korbel's home during gun-chase.
He was also convicted of the attempted murder of Joseph Nee, the wounding with intent of Olivia's mum Cheryl Korbel and firearms offences.
During a four-week trial jurors heard about the moment Nee barged into Olivia's home to seek safety from Cashman who had been laying in wait to kill him for half an hour as he watched a football match.
Nee had seen the front door to Olivia's home open after the nine-year-old mum heard the disturbance and came outside.
Solicitor General Michael Tomlinson KC said:
"Olivia Pratt-Korbel's senseless murder at the hands of Thomas Cashman shocked and sickened the nation.
"Because of the strong feelings this case evokes, it was little surprise that I received several requests under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme, to consider the sentence of life imprisonment with a minimum term of 42 years that was handed down to him.
"My duty as a Law Officer in considering whether sentences may be unduly lenient is to act independently of government, even when it is not easy or popular.
"Having received detailed legal advice and considered the issues raised very carefully, I have concluded Cashman's case cannot properly be referred to the Court of Appeal.
"Such a referral can only be made if the rigorous legal test is met, irrespective of the seriousness of the crime or the emotions the offending may evoke. The threshold for referral is a high one, and that was not met in this case.
"The test is only met if the sentencing judge made a gross error or imposed a sentence outside the range reasonably available in the circumstances of the offending.
"My thoughts remain with Olivia's family and friends who have shown such immeasurable strength during this devastating time."
Father-of-two Cashman, a high-level Liverpool drug dealer, has launched his own appeal against his sentence, with lawyers arguing the penalty is too harsh.