Thomas Cashman, the gunman responsible for the tragic death of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel, has been refused permission to appeal against his sentence. The incident occurred in August 2022 when Cashman, armed with guns, pursued a fellow drug dealer into Olivia’s home, resulting in her untimely demise.
Cashman was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 42 years for the murder of the innocent schoolgirl. The Court of Appeal has now rejected his application for leave to appeal against his sentence. This decision follows the court’s previous dismissal of an application to refer Cashman’s sentence under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme.
During the trial, it was revealed that Cashman had “lay in wait” with two firearms, intending to target Joseph Nee, a 36-year-old individual. As Nee fled the scene, seeking refuge, he ran toward Olivia’s open front door, which her mother, Cheryl Korbel, had approached to investigate the commotion. Tragically, a bullet fired by Cashman pierced the door, grazing Ms Korbel’s hand and fatally striking Olivia in the chest.
Cashman’s refusal to attend the hearing has garnered condemnation, with many labelling him a “coward.” This incident has sparked discussions surrounding potential changes to the law, aiming to ensure that criminals are compelled to attend their sentence hearings or face additional years in prison.
