Olivia Pratt-Korbel killer bids to have jail term cut but it could be increased

The killer of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel could have his sentence increased after he lodged an appeal against his 42-year minimum jail term.

Thomas Cashman, 34, was given a mandatory life sentence for murder and told he must serve 42 years before becoming eligible for parole when he was jailed earlier this month.

The Attorney General’s Office on Friday confirmed it has received a request to review Cashman’s sentence as being “unduly lenient” as it emerged his own lawyers are to appeal for a cut in his jail term.

A spokesman from the Attorney General’s Office said: “We have received a request for this sentence to be considered under the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme.

“The Law Officers have 28 days from sentencing to consider the case and make a decision.”

But lawyers for father-of-two Cashman, a high-level Liverpool drug dealer, are to take his case to the Court of Appeal, to argue his sentence is too harsh and he should serve less time before parole, the court confirmed.

Cashman was branded a “coward” for his refusal to come into court and face Olivia’s family after he was found guilty by the jury and about to be sentenced by trial judge Mrs Justice Yip at Manchester Crown Court.

It has prompted calls for a change in the law to force criminals to attend their sentence hearing or face extra years in jail.

Cheryl Korbel, Olivia’s mother, joined a chorus of voices, including former Justice Secretary Dominic Raab, and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, calling for a change in the law.

Cashman shot Olivia dead at her home in Dovecot, Liverpool, on August 22 last year.

His trial heard how he “lay in wait” with two guns to attack Joseph Nee, 36, a convicted drug dealer.

After shooting Nee, his victim tried to escape, running towards the Korbels’ front door, opened by Cheryl who had gone outside to see what was happening.

As she tried to block the door on Nee, frightened Olivia ran from her bed to the stairs, shouting, “Mum, I’m scared!”

Cashman fired again, hitting Cheryl in the wrist as she tried to keep the door shut on Nee.

The same bullet hit and killed her daughter, who was hiding behind her.

Jailing him, Mrs Justice Yip said the killer was “not of previous good character”, had made it clear he was a criminal and had “demonstrated no remorse” during his trial.

She added: “His failure to come into court is further evidence of that.”