Remembering Olivia Pratt-Korbel, the Brave Princess

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【Summary】A year after the shooting that took the life of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel, her mother remembers her as a "sassy little princess" who loved life. Olivia was shot by Thomas Cashman, who was chasing a convicted drug dealer into her family home. Her mother, Cheryl Korbel, wants Olivia to be remembered for her vibrant personality and impact on the community. A garden in Court Hey Park has been created in Olivia's memory, where schoolchildren will participate in workshops.

FutureCar Staff Aug 21, 2023 5:06 PM PT

Remembering Olivia Pratt-Korbel, the Brave Princess

A year after the tragic shooting that took the life of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel, her mother Cheryl Korbel reflects on how Olivia has touched the community. Olivia was killed on August 22 last year when Thomas Cashman, who was chasing a convicted drug dealer, entered their family home in Dovecot, Liverpool.

Cheryl Korbel, who was also injured in the incident, wants Olivia to be remembered as a "sassy little princess" who had a cheeky personality and loved life. She describes Olivia as someone who loved dancing and packed so much into her nine years of life. Although Olivia's time with them was short, her family cherishes the amazing memories they shared.

Olivia's impact on the community is evident through a garden in Court Hey Park, Knowsley, dedicated to her memory. The garden features a butterfly mosaic and will be used for workshops with schoolchildren. Cheryl is grateful for the support from the school, parents, and children, as they have all been touched by Olivia in some way.

The past year has been difficult for Cheryl, but with the support of her family and friends, she has been able to get through it. As the first anniversary of Olivia's murder approaches, Cheryl plans to continue mentioning Olivia's name to keep her memory alive.

Olivia's death was one of three fatal shootings that occurred within a week in Liverpool last August. The community was devastated by the loss of Ashley Dale and Sam Rimmer, who were also victims of gun violence. The prevalence of gun crime during that time was described as being "out of control" by Cheryl's cousin, Antonia Elverson.

Antonia emphasizes the need for gun and knife crime to stop, as it not only affects individual families but also rocks the entire community, city, and nation. The pain of losing Olivia will never go away for Cheryl and her family, and they hope that no other family has to endure the same life sentence of grief.

Thomas Cashman, the perpetrator of Olivia's murder, was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 42 years.