Merseyside Police have made their tenth arrest as part of their investigation into the horrific murder of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbell in her Liverpool home last month.
The girl died at the city’s Alder Hey Children’s Hospital after being shot in her Knotty Ash house on August 22 about 10 p.m. by a shooter pursuing convicted burglar and drug dealer Joseph Nee and opening fire indiscriminately.
Cheryl Korbel, the mother of Olivia, was injured in the wrist as she hurriedly attempted to close the front door, but the bullet also struck Olivia, who was standing behind her mother. The child was brought to the hospital, but it was too late to rescue her. Neither the shooter nor his intended victim had any ties to Olivia’s family. Nee is still hospitalised.
Cops have now made their ninth arrest in connection with the incident, but no one has yet been prosecuted with Olivia’s murder because, according to detectives, anybody withholding information in case is ‘protecting the killers’ due to a code of silence among Liverpool’s gangs.
In a statement today, the force said: ‘Detectives have arrested at 34-year-old man on suspicion of the murder of Olivia Pratt-Korbel on 22 August 2022. The investigation into Olivia’s murder is ongoing and we continue to appeal for people with information to come forward to assist us in bringing those responsible to justice.
‘Anyone with information is asked to DM @MerPolCC or contact @CrimestoppersUK on 0800 555 111.
‘If you have any CCTV/dashcam/smart doorbell footage that could help our inquiries they can be downloaded on the dedicated public portal for Olivia’s murder, which will go straight through to the investigation team. Footage can be submitted here Public Portal (mipp.police.uk).’
Merseyside Detective Chief Superintendent Mark Kameen said: ‘This occurred in the middle of summer in an area where innocent local people would have been enjoying the park. Once again, as with the first time this weapon was used in our communities, we find that those in possession of it have no care, thought or loyalty for anyone else or their safety.
‘Once again, they do not deserve anyone’s loyalty.’
DCS Kameen appealed for patience as the force investigates the murder of nine-year-old Olivia. Nine people have been arrested so far but all have been released under investigation.
Speaking at a press conference earlier this month, he said: ‘I recognise that people will wonder and question why no one has been charged despite those arrests. If I could reassure you that this is normal practice in any complex investigation, the threshold for arresting somebody is far lower than that of charging someone. Please be patient with us. The investigation is progressing.
‘The detectives involved in bringing justice for Olivia and her family are working tirelessly with real care and passion to achieve the objective of securing those charges against everyone involved in her murder. No matter how small their role.’
Officers in the investigation have worked more than 15,000 hours, trawled through thousands of hours of CCTV and investigated more than 400 piece of intelligence passed on by the public.
Two weeks ago, Mrs Korbel, 46, spoke to a packed congregation of mourners at St Mary Margaret’s Church in Knotty Ash.
Hundreds of people, many of them wearing a ‘splash of pink’ at Olivia’s family’s request, lined the streets as the youngster’s coffin was brought to the church by a white, horse-drawn carriage.
Dressed in a black jacket with a pink ribbon, Mrs Korbel told the congregation Olivia, known to family and friends as Liv, had been born six weeks early and spent nine days in a special baby unit.
‘She was so small yet even as a newborn she had her own mind,’ Mrs Korbel said.
She described Olivia’s ‘cheeky smile’ and how she loved animals and to sing and dance. The mother-of-three added: ‘Olivia was very chatty and bubbly and would talk for England, to the point we thought she had Duracell batteries inside her somewhere.
‘She would have made a great lawyer as she had an answer for everything.’
Ending the eulogy, Mrs Korbel said: ‘Liv touched so many people’s hearts and was loved and adored by everyone. She will never be forgotten. I will never say goodbye but what I will say is goodnight, love you, see you in the morning.’
A eulogy from Olivia’s father, John Francis Pratt, was read by parish priest Father Roy Cooper. He described ‘our very own little diva’ and said Olivia was kind, caring and helpful.
Olivia’s sister Chloe also gave a reading during the hour-long service.
The flowers were placed on top of Olivia’s white casket, which had painted butterflies on the side. Alongside the carriage were flower tributes fashioned as unicorns and teddy bears.
Olivia’s headteacher at St Margaret Mary’s Catholic Junior School, which is next to the church, Rebecca Wilkinson, attended the funeral.
Students have adorned the school railings with pink ribbons and the windows with Olivia’s name spelt out in pink hearts. In her honour, her students painted their nails pink and watched Matilda, her favourite movie, instead of attending classes.
Archbishop Malcolm McMahon said in his sermon that Olivia was a “gift to her family and to all who knew her.”
He expressed confidence that ‘Olivia’s untimely death will lead to a community here in Liverpool without violence, that it will become a place of peace and justice.’ As Olivia’s casket was brought out the church, Amazing Grace was sung.
Her relatives hugged and wiped away tears as mourners clapped as the funeral procession departed for a private family burial.