Thomas Cashman sentenced to life with a minimum of 42 years for the murder of Olivia Pratt-Korbel

Drug-dealing gunman Thomas Cashman was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 42 years for the murder of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel.

Ms Justice Yip said Olivia's family had suffered an "unimaginable loss" and praised mum Cheryl Korbel's "bravery and strength".

Calling the murder "chilling", Judge Yip said, "For Olivia's murder, there is only one sentence that can be handed down, and that is a mandatory life sentence."

Cashman, 34, was convicted last week of murdering the nine-year-old and intentionally injuring Cheryl, 46, while pursuing drug dealer Joseph Nee at their home in the neighborhood of Dovecot in Liverpool on August 22. year.

Gasps were heard from the public gallery as the sentence was announced and Cheryl and other members of Olivia's family were seen crying.

Speaking in court after sentencing, Olivia Pratt-Korbel's mother, Cheryl Korbel, said: "The jury returned a verdict of guilty, which confirmed our belief that Cashman murdered our beautiful Olivia.

"Olivia was just gorgeous with her long brown hair and big brown eyes. She was such a social butterfly, she was especially good with young children and she was such a caring little girl."

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Olivia Pratt-Korbel was shot in August of last year (

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Olivia's family was torn apart in minutes by senseless violence (

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She added: "Liv was the light of our lives, a sassy, ​​talkative girl who never ran out of energy, she was a character, she was my baby, she had amazing qualities and knew what 'she wanted in life.< /p>

"Everyone adored him, he was the baby of our family. My little love, my shadow."

Cashman was also sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum sentence of 22 years for the attempted murder of drug trafficker Joseph Nee.

For intentionally hurting Cheryl Korbel, Olivia's mother...