A coroner has called for anyone with information about the shooting of Olivia Pratt-Korbel to do their “duty” and come forward to ensure “justice is done”.
Andre Rebello, senior coroner for Liverpool, made the appeal as he suspended the schoolgirl’s inquest while criminal proceedings take place.
Olivia, nine, was fatally shot when a gunman chased convicted burglar Joseph Nee into her home in the Dovecot area of the city on 22 August.
Thomas Cashman, 34, has been charged with her murder and appeared in court earlier this week.
Mr Rebello said at Olivia’s inquest: “It is vitally important that anyone who has any information around this incident rings Crimestoppers or contacts Merseyside Police to give them that information as there is a duty on us all to actually ensure that justice is done.”
The short hearing heard the youngster died at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and her cause of death was a gunshot wound to the chest.
Mr Rebello said a coroner’s officer had spoken to Olivia’s parents, Cheryl Korbel and John Francis Pratt, and that her death certificate could be provided to the family following the suspension of the inquest.
Man charged with murder of Olivia Pratt-Korbel appears in court
Man charged with murder of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel in Liverpool
Man arrested in connection with murder of Olivia Pratt-Korbel
The court heard that the coroner’s investigation will only be resumed if there was good reason to do so.
Mr Rebello said: “That ordinarily means if sufficient evidence is received in public, at the Crown Court, bearing upon who Olivia is, when and where she died and how she came by her medical cause of death, then it is unlikely the matter will be resumed.
“If, on the other hand, criminal proceedings take a different course such that information hasn’t been aired then there is a good prospect the coroner will consider a resumption.”
Olivia’s mother was injured in the shooting, which happened just after 10pm.
Cashman, of Grenadier Drive, West Derby, was also charged with the attempted murder of Ms Korbel and Nee, as well as two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life when he appeared in court on Monday.
He is next due to appear at Liverpool Crown Court for a plea hearing on 10 January.
Paul Russell, 40, of Snowberry Road, West Derby, has been charged with assisting an offender.
