Merseyside Detectives: The Murders of Ashley and Olivia (2024) s01e04 Episode Script
Episode 4
1
The Crown Prosecution Service
has authorised Merseyside Police
to charge Thomas Cashman
with the murder
of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel.
We will see you in court.
Yeah, we will.
To clear my name.
OK.
If he was any type of man,
he'd admit what he's done.
Ashley Dale was murdered
in her own home.
The innocent victim of a
callous crime.
We'll never come to terms with it.
I'll never accept it.
She's not here.
She's not coming back.
She must have been so scared
when she heard the door
getting kicked in.
And she's confronted with someone
holding that.
AUTOMATIC GUNFIRE
I have never gone into a scene
like that to see just how determined,
whoever it was that's gone in,
there is just no-one getting
out of that house alive.
Niall Barry has been making threats
towards Lee,
saying that he's put
money on his head.
James, come with me, you're under
arrest for suspicion of murder.
These two work for Niall Barry.
And if they carried out the attack,
it'll be for him.
We believe that Witham and Peers
have left the Pilch Lane flat,
and then have used the Hyundai
to drive to Ashley's home address,
where the door has been forced
to the premises.
The gunman has entered,
which we believe is James Witham,
firing ten shots in Ashley's
direction,
and then has run out of the house.
We believe that Joseph Peers is
outside as more or less
the getaway driver of the Hyundai.
James, just before we go any
further,
I need to make you aware that the
interview
is being downstream monitored.
Members of the investigation team
will be monitoring the live feed
of that interview.
James, what do you know
about the murder of Ashley Dale?
Do you know anything about it?
Do you know why Ashley was shot
and killed?
OK, Joseph, we're really
interested in a grey Hyundai.
Do you recognise this vehicle?
No comment.
Have you ever driven the vehicle?
No comment.
We believe that vehicle was used
in the commission of
Ashley's murder.
That means it was used to take
the gunman to the address
..where Ashley was shot on the head,
she was forced.
To be more specific, James.
Did you have any part in forcing
the front door of Leinster Road?
So the forensic examination
of Leinster Road,
the CSI recovered a number
of footprint lifts
from inside the address.
And he said that the marks were left
by an On Cloudflyer trainer
..in a size 8.5.
Did you leave those footwear
marks in Leinster Road?
Or is it just a coincidence?
It's just part of the investigation.
We've conducted financial enquiries
on a Lloyds account held
in your name, and those records
show that
11.09 Saturday the 20th of August,
there was a transaction for £155
at Tesco Sports.
Do you know anything
about that transaction?
We're going to show you some
footage, James.
DCI CUMMINGS: He's sweating.
From isn't it - KMM4?
So this is footage from Tesco's.
Male comes to the till
..and purchases black On Cloudflyer
trainers..
..in a size 8.5.
Do you still have those
trainers, James?
Where are they now?
Exhibit DB-21.
This is a bullet casing
that has been left within the scene
at Leinster Road.
That specific casing has been
submitted for forensic analysis.
So the scientist reports,
"The reference DNA profile
"of James Witham is almost fully
represented within this result.
"As I might expect if he was a
contributor of DNA to this result."
So that bullet
casing has been analysed.
The scientist is saying
that has come from you.
Do you want to pause the interview?
If that's what he wants, yeah.
Yeah, that's fine.
OK, Joseph, have you got any
links to any organised crime group?
No comment.
As in what would be known
as the Barry OCG.
You linked to the Barry OCG?
No comment.
Niall Barry, he's sometimes
called Branch.
Does that mean anything to you?
That name?
No comment.
Did you have any contact with
Niall Barry, also known as Branch,
on the day of the murder?
No comment.
OK, James, that's recording
again there.
OK. Just before the break, James,
I explained to you about a
bullet casing
in the address where
Ashley Dale was murdered.
And I asked if there's anything
you'd like to say
about those results.
Was Ashley, the intended target,
James?
Were you aware
of any of your associates
being in dispute with Ashley?
Niall Barry, does that name mean
anything to you?
Do you know Niall?
Does the name Lee Harrison mean
anything to you, James?
So we know Lee to have been
the partner of Ashley
at the time she was killed.
Was Niall in dispute with Lee?
To your knowledge, did Niall
have any involvement in this murder?
I've got no further questions.
And the interview is halted.
Detectives send their evidence
to the Crown Prosecution Service
for a charging decision.
PHONE VIBRATES
Hello, Cath Cummings.
Are you?
Bail, it's not quite there on
an evidential threshold.
For God's sake!
Mr Witham, just want to step
up here for us, mate. OK.
But in relation to the murder
you allegedly been involved
with and arrested for, there's
decision being made
that you're going to be bailed
on that matter. OK?
The request on us is to convince
the CPS that it can't
have been anybody else.
So what we now need to do,
and really with a fine-tooth comb,
is go through all call data
for all those relevant people
that we believe were in the flat
earlier on that day
into the evening.
And then the two that leave can only
be Witham and Peers.
Why I feel frustrated is
having to go and explain
to the family, yeah, we have made
two arrests today,
but that unfortunately there
isn't sufficient to charge.
We've had to release them on bail.
Also, we as the police have now got
to manage these two individuals
in the communities, who also
have access to a firearm.
SIREN BLARES
The trial's getting under way
of the man accused of shooting dead
a nine-year-old girl at her home
in Liverpool last summer.
Thomas Cashman denies murdering
Olivia Pratt-Korbel in Dovecot.
Olivia's mother has just arrived
there she is surrounded
by friends and family.
The trial was moved from Liverpool
to Manchester
because they were concerned
at just how strong the feelings
were in Liverpool, and whether that
trial could be carried out fairly.
Judge Mrs Justice Yip noted
the details of the case
will be sensitive, and said
it would be normal for jurors
to experience emotions.
But she added, "It's important
you put your emotions aside
"when listening to the evidence."
Cashman insisted he
wasn't the gunman.
He claimed he'd been stitched
up and appearing to become tearful.
He told the jury, "I'm not
a killer, I'm a dad.
"I'm getting blamed for something
I haven't done."
So can you see
Cashman in the courtroom?
At the beginning, yes.
but they've pulled the blind
down on the side where I'm sat.
I'd been told he'd asked
for it to be pulled
down because we're intimidating.
Just by looking at him, and I've got
every right to look at him.
I needed to because I wanted to see
if there was any remorse
..and there wasn't.
Nothing.
It's listening to him
pleading his innocence,
which is more frustrating.
What are you doing just now?
Um, putting together my victim
impact statement.
There's so much that I want to put
in
..for people to understand,
and especially Cashman.
To understand who Liv was
..and for him to understand
what he's done.
Understand what we've lost.
"Liv never stopped talking.
"Literally never.
"I would do and give anything
in the world
"to have her chatting to me.
"It's so very lonely without her.
"She will never get to make her
holy communion,
"wear that prom dress
or have a Sweet 16 birthday.
"Walk down the aisle with the man
of her dreams, or become a mother
"of her own children.
"This happened in our home
where we felt safe,
"and that night when I realised Liv
had been shot and needed me
"..I was not able to do CPR properly
on her because of my injury.
"I did not have full use
of my hands and I felt helpless.
"My worst nightmare was being
separated from Liv
"and not being with her when she
needed me the most.
"I was the first person
to hold my baby girl,
"and as her mum, I should have been
the last.
"Now I have to drive to the cemetery
to be close to my baby daughter.
"I sit with her and talk to her,
telling her I miss her smile,
"her kisses, her cuddles, her voice.
"I tell her she will live
on in my heart.
"She will always be with us.
"My little shadow.
"We love you endless amounts, Liv."
And you'd like to say that to
Cashman?
Yeah.
Yeah, very much so.
Because Liv hasn't got
a voice any more.
I will be her voice.
APPLAUSE
Hundreds of balloons were released
in Sefton Park in Liverpool
in honour of Ashley Dale.
Friends and family gathered
to celebrate her life.
So I've known Ashley since
we were two years of age.
We've grown up together.
We've done everything together.
Went to secondary school together,
finished uni at the same time.
We should have had many
more milestones to come.
30th birthdays, babies, marriages.
I can't put into words how we feel
to have her taken from us.
She had a violent death
for just such a gentle soul.
If it can happen to Ashley,
it can happen to anyone.
And that's thescariest thing.
The gun crime in this city
has got to stop.
It's got to stop.
So we seized this phone,
which is an Encro enabled
phone from Niall Barry.
An Encro phone is a encrypted device.
This enables criminals to conduct
their activities undetected.
It can be anything from supplying
drugs, supplying firearms.
People like Barry thought that these
messages would stay private,
but our colleagues in Europe
cracked the encryption.
Detectives discover messages
Nigel Barry sent to Sean Zeisz,
a lieutenant in his OCG
who was with him on the night
of Ashley's murder.
Barry and Zeisz are shifting serious
quantities of drugs. Oh, yeah.
We've got Niall Barry being offered,
um, cocaine here.
"They look sound, bro.
I'll probably take four, bro.
"I'll take the four, and we'll pass
£80,000 up front today."
So he's got a lot of cash on him.
Niall Barry's clearly shopping
around for a firearm.
Jesus.
He's being offered two AK-47s. Nice.
85 sweets. So 85 bullets with each.
Yeah.
One TEC-9 self-loading pistol.
Yeah. With either 2 or 400 sweets.
Yeah. Quite interestingly,
one Scorpion with suppressor.
And said, "The scorp will defo have
get us prices."
The Scorpion submachine gun
was the same weapon that was used
to murder Ashley.
Yeah, it was. Yeah.
We've got a conversation
between Niall Barry and Sean Zeisz
regarding firearms here, mate.
They're plotting to attack someone
who's stolen Sean's electric bike.
It's quite scary the way it reads.
Go on.
Barry instructs Zeisz.
"Get that 38.
"Just get that and the scorp."
It looks like he's not scared to use
it as he tells Sean,
"I reckon we blaze both gaffs."
"Just wait for them to run out"
Yeah.
"..and when they do, just do them."
It sounds like he wants
to shoot him, dunnit?
He certainly does. And Sean
seems to agree - "100%", he says.
Good morning, everyone.
This who were looking to arrest
this morning, Niall Barry.
He was arrested initially on
suspicion of
the murder of Ashley Dale.
However, he is to be arrested
in relation
to a significant drug conspiracy.
He's also to be arrested
for conspiracy to possess a firearm
without certificate and conspiracy
to commit GBH.
What channel are we on?
Six, isn't it?
Yes. Niall Barry.
So it's N-I-A-L-L.
Get your cameras on.
It's open. It's open.
Property-wise, you say you've just
got cash on you,
is that all you've got?
I've got £120 in my pocket.
No problem. OK.
Right. OK.
Boss, we've got Barry.
Sean Zeisz, the man who was with
Barry on the night of Ashley's
murder, is also arrested.
Away from me, mate.
Eh, eh! Don't be making threats in
here.
Tell you that now.
Don't be making threats in here.
This interview is being digitally
audio recorded.
Is your lifestyle funded from you
selling drugs, Niall?
Quantities we have attributed
to yourself are 22.25kg of cocaine,
2.5kg of heroin and 27kg of cannabis.
You're also arrested for conspiracy
to possess a firearm
without a certificate and also
conspiracy to commit GBH.
Have you got any knowledge
of firearms at all, Niall?
Sean Zeisz, that's a friend of yours,
isn't it?
He's someone you do business
with nowadays.
You ever heard the term
"scorp" before, Sean?
Firearms expert suggested
that's a Czechoslovakian self-loading
pistol.
And then you say, "He's gonna have
to get it, ain't he?"
He's going to have to get what?
He's got to get what's coming to him?
"I reckon we blaze both gaffs
"..shoot at both gaffes and wait for
them to run out.
"When they do, just do them."
Is that you planning an attack
on the individuals responsible
..for stealing your bike?
Not just an attack, a firearms
attack.
Have we got anything wrong
there at all?
Sean, anything you want to add?
And the interview's now at an end.
Boss, the CPS have got back to us
about Barry and Zeisz.
Ellison's emailed me to say
he's had a look.
He's happy to charge with all
the offences that we thought.
Brilliant!
I want the family to know
first about the arrests
before anything goes out.
Yeah? Thank you.
No problem, no worries.
Right, OK, Sean.
Sean? Yeah.
Can you hear me, mate?
Yeah. Right, OK.
You conspired together with other
persons to supply
a quantity of cocaine - a controlled
drug of class A.
Is there any reply?
No reply.
You conspired together with other
persons to have in your possession
firearms, namely revolvers
and self-loading pistols.
And that's contrary to section 1-1
of the Criminal Law Act '77.
Any reply? No. No.
The charges for Barry and Zeisz
is fantastic news
at this stage of the murder
investigation, because what it means
is they will be remanded
into custody, which ultimately takes
them off the streets.
And just sign here for us, please.
The focus now at all levels across
the team
is for Witham and Peers that remain
on police bail and prove their
involvement in Ashley's murder.
Your bodycam's rolling, isn't it?
Police responding to an incident
in St Helens
make an unexpected discovery.
While I'm here, I'm just going to
check that, because there's
one outstanding for a very
serious offence.
Yep, that's the one.
There's a marker on in relation
to Ashley Dale's murder.
It's the vehicle linked for that.
Don't go anywhere near it.
I knew it was.
It's on a false plate.
And it's on a false plate.
The Hyundai Fastback is examined
for any evidence
that may link it to the shooting.
It's weird seeing it in person.
I've been looking at on CCTV for
weeks and weeks and weeks.
I know, yeah. I know.
Yeah, I'm amazed it's not on a boat
to China.
Fingers crossed they'll find
something that connects
Witham and Peers to this car.
Detectives analyse call data from
phones used by the suspects
on the night of Ashley's murder.
Morning, boss. I've just gone
through the CCTV and the telecoms,
and we've produced a sequence
of events.
We've got some CCTV of Joseph Peers
going to the local shop
next to the flat, where we can see
that Peers purchases a SIM card.
Now, when we done some enquiries,
that SIM card was used
nine minutes later by Barry.
First-ever used.
But that makes some significant
calls later on
in the lead-up to the murder.
That's on the CCTV. Obviously, the
two of them have left the flat,
Witham and Peers,
and that's at 2210.
You then see at 2243,
that SIM card attempts to make
a one-second phone call to Witham.
But it's Witham just left the flat?
Yes.
And then you've also got, ten
seconds later, Barry then tries
to speak to Joseph Peers
for two seconds.
So, because he can't get hold of
Witham, he then tries Peers.
He does, yeah.
So, that shows that by that time
they're still together, aren't they?
Yes. Well, he thinks that they're
still together. Yeah.
So, then we move forward.
2310, Sean Zeisz makes a 23-second
phone call to Joseph Peers.
That is about 26 minutes before
the tyres are slashed
on Ashley's vehicle.
You'll see from the cell site at
the time, Witham, just before
the tyres are slashed,
his cell site's within the area
of Ashley Dale's home address.
Wow. God, that's significant,
isn't it? Yeah.
So, we believe that Ashley was
murdered at approximately 0033.
The next phone call we've got
is at 0047.
Sean Zeisz makes two attempts calls
to Joseph Peers.
And then we'll see the first
successful contact at 0059.
So, about 27 minutes after Ashley
was murdered,
and that's Joseph Peers to
Sean Zeisz.
Shortly after that phone call,
Niall Barry is checking the
Liverpool Echo, at 1:01 and 1:03.
At 0125, we're seeing James Whitham
and Joseph Peers
returning to the flat.
Whilst they're still in the flat,
at 0138, now Barry's making
a further Google search on
the Liverpool Echo,
and that continues into the early
hours of the morning.
That is the first press release.
So, that's at 0926.
30 minutes later, now Barry
accesses the Liverpool Echo.
So, basically, we've got now Barry
and Sean Zeisz in that flat,
trying to get hold of the only
two people that have left it. Yes.
James Witham and Joseph Peers.
This could be enough now to charge
the two of them.
Hello. Is it James?
What?
What's your name? James.
You're currently under arrest
for murder, all right. What?
You do not have to say anything,
but it may harm your defence
if you don't mention when questioned
something you later rely on
in court. Anything you do say
may be given in evidence.
Just take a seat in there for me,
mate.
Mr Witham, do you know why
you're here?
Do you understand that you've been
arrested on suspicion of murder?
The murder of Ashley Dale.
Are you staying silent now
because you've been told to?
Who has the type of power to
silence you like that?
So, in your first set of interviews,
we spoke about a vehicle
which was key to the offence, which
was, namely, a grey Hyundai i30.
Do you know anything further about
that vehicle at this point?
No comment.
Merseyside Police have discovered
the grey Hyundai.
So, we've forensically examined
the vehicle, James.
And there's one exhibit that I want
to discuss with you,
which is exhibit reference SM81.
It's a black bottle top from the
rear nearside footwell
of the vehicle.
Your DNA is present on that
bottle top.
To your knowledge, have you and
Joseph, ever shared a bottled drink?
The major DNA profile matches
the reference DNA profile
for Joseph Peers.
So, can you account of how that
has come to be in that car?
No comment.
Because you've been in that car,
simple as that.
No comment.
We're going to move on to some
telecoms evidence.
Mobile phone number which
we've linked to you,
coincidentally, powers down
before the murder takes place.
There's Pilch Lane flat.
There's the murder scene.
And there's round about where
you were
when you switched your phone off.
Roughly, four-minute journey
in a car.
Do you find that interesting, James?
Because what's interesting,
as well, is your mate,
Joseph Peers, switches his phone off
at about the same time.
And, interestingly,
he switched his back on again
three minutes after Ashley
was murdered.
Why did your phone go silent?
Because it seems to us on the
investigation team that,
well, perhaps you were just about to
go and do something highly illegal.
Highly dangerous.
Something that you might get in
a lot of trouble for.
Mr Witham, this is your last chance.
Do you want to tell us
absolutely anything about anything
that we've spelled out here?
Are you protecting the person
who murdered Ashley Dale
with your silence?
Is it easier not to say anything
and take the repercussions,
whatever they may be, than
risk the repercussions of talking?
Or is it that there's
an agreed code of silence?
I've got no further questions.
Nothing from me.
Charge is coming across now.
Dead nervous!
Has it come through?
Right. Brilliant.
Just had the authorities
to charge through from CPS.
So, are you free now
to put those charges on?
Yes. Of course.
I'll put the charge.
Possession of a firearm
and murder for both.
Full Code Test applied.
Well done. I know this is a lot
to do, butfantastic result.
I'm just racing out
to the family now.
You all right, James?
So a decision has come back
and you're going to be charged.
First charge is one for murder.
On the 21st of August 2022,
at Leinster Road,
Liverpool, Merseyside,
you murdered Ashley Dale,
contrary to common law.
Any reply to that first charge?
No.
You, without the authority of
the Secretary of State,
purchased or acquired a firearm -
namely a Skorpion machine pistol.
And that's contrary to Section 51A
and Schedule 6
of the Firearms Act 1968.
NEWSREADER: Two men have been
remanded in custody,
charged with the murder of
Ashley Dale in Liverpool.
They're due to appear again
at Liverpool Crown Court
later this week.
REPORTER: Thomas Cashman, guilty of
the murder of Olivia Pratt-Korbel
Yes!
..guilty, in fact,
on all five counts.
REPORTER: Gasps and tears,
we're told,
from Olivia's family
as the verdicts returned
and Cashman turning back to
his family, shaking his head.
NEWSREADER: We're standing by
for the sentencing
at Manchester Crown Court
of Thomas Cashman,
found guilty of the murder of
nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel.
While we continue to wait for
the sentencing of Thomas Cashman,
there has been a delay
because Thomas Cashman wishes
to be sentenced in his absence.
He is refusing to enter
the courtroom.
Mr Cashman has been brought
to court today
but has refused to come from
the cells to be sentenced.
I am therefore left with no choice
but to sentence him in his absence.
I now pronounce the sentence.
On count one, for the murder
of Olivia Pratt-Korbel,
the sentence will be
life imprisonment.
The minimum term will be 42 years
Oh! ..plus the time the defendant
has already spent on remand.
CHEERING
42 years, that's a huge
minimum sentence,
which means that he will be 76
before he's got any chance
of being released.
My thanks go to the witnesses
who bravely assisted
the prosecution case
and defied the usual stance of
"People do not grass."
Today's sentence will never
bring Olivia back.
I hope that the sentence of 42 years
given to Thomas Cashman today
will act as a deterrent for anyone
who thinks of picking up a gun
and putting our communities at risk
through their reckless behaviour.
Thank you. Thank you all.
We're going to head over that way.
REPORTER: On the streets
of Liverpool
is a family determined
to make itself heard.
Hi! Would you like to support
our online petition today
to support Face the Family? It's to
make offenders to stand up in court
and face the family
rather than hiding themselves.
They're calling for a change
in the law to force criminals
to attend their sentencing.
Basically, do you remember
little Olivia?
It's that lady, isn't it? Yeah.
Yeah, yeah.
That's Liv, and I'm her sister.
Trying to get as many signatures
as we can,
make this change in the law,
not so much to look him in the eye -
because I knew he wouldn't look me
in the eye -
but for him to hear the pain
that we went through,
the pain that he caused.
PRODUCER: And what was it like
for you when he didn't?
It was like a punch in the stomach.
Hi, guys. Would you like to help
sign our petition, please?
Face the Family campaign.
Get offenders into the dock.
Going to prison is supposed
to be a rehabilitation.
That first port of call
of rehabilitation
should be in that courtroom.
Actions speak louder than words,
and we said we were going to
make a noise
and that's exactly
what we're doing today.
NEWSREADER: Four men
have each been told
that they will spend
more than 40 years in prison
for murdering Ashley Dale
in Liverpool last August.
REPORTER: The prosecution saying
this was a deliberate and merciless
intent to kill, that James Whitham
and Joseph Peers were dispatched
to assassinate Lee Harrison
and leave no witnesses.
REPORTER: Niall Barry, the main
instigator of the shooting,
got life with a minimum of 47 years.
Gunman James Witham
will serve at least 43 years,
another plotter, Sean Zeisz,
42 years,
and getaway driver Joseph Peers,
41 years.
As James Witham stormed into
Ashley's home that night,
wearing a balaclava, firing from
a Skorpion submachine gun,
he took away Ashley, an ambitious,
bubbly, charismatic young woman -
the community rocked,
her family and friends
left devastated.
Whilst they will never get over
losing their Ashley,
following today's results,
I and the rest of the team hope
they will find some comfort
in the knowledge
that those responsible will spend
the rest of their lives behind bars.
The biggest thing
that came out for me in the court
was that this feud that had been
going on with the defendant
and Ashley's boyfriend, Lee, Ashley
had major anxietiesover it.
And that came out in court and
we didn't know anything about it.
And that That is probably
one of the hardest parts for me,
that me and Ashley were so close,
but she didn't feel able to come
and talk about them anxieties
that she had.
I don't think for one minute
she thought that
something this serious would happen,
cos who would?
Who would think that someone is
going to burst into your home
at half past midnight at night
and fire 15 shots? No-one.
It doesn't happen, it's not
heard of, but it's happened to us.
PRODUCER: What was it like
reading out
your victim impact statement
in court?
I felt like that was my only chance
to be able to speak to the defendant
and look them in the eye and tell
them what they've done to my family.
And I addressed James Witham
by name
when I told him that I hope he sees
my baby girl's face every night
when he goes to sleep
and he walked out the dock.
Why do you think he walked out
of the dock?
Cos he knew what he'd done
and, yeah, he couldn't take it.
He couldn't face it.
A couple of months after
this happened to Ashley,
her work colleagues thought about
doing, like, a tribute.
We thought the park where she loved
coming would be a perfect place,
somewhere to come
and remember Ashley.
She was my daughter. She was,
you know, very important to me.
Sorry.
She loved life.
She just brought joy to us
all the time.
Losing her, it's just left a hole
in our family.
It's just a hole
that will never be filled.
Hi. Morning. Morning. How are you?
Yeah, not too bad. I'm Rishi.
Cheryl. Very nice to see you,
Cheryl. Nice to meet you.
REPORTER: This was the day
Cheryl Korbel's determination
to secure her daughter's legacy
brought her
to the Prime Minister's door.
For the person responsible not to
show up to his sentencing hearing
is just profoundly wrong.
It's not It's not right.
And I could see all the emotion
that you had put into
your impact statement.
And it's not an easy thing to do.
This is the thing.
Like, after you have put all of that
of yourself into it,
for him to just take
the easy way out
and then not have to hear that
and face up to what he's done,
it just It isn't right.
And that's why today,
we're announcing
that we're going to change that.
So it won't be possible any longer
for people like him
to take the coward's way out.
When the Prime Minister met
Cheryl Korbel today, he was able
to pledge that the change in the law
that she and other families
have been campaigning for
will now take place.
Under new rules, judges
will be able to force offenders
to attend sentencing hearings.
Some flowers.
Boss, isn't it?
Yeah.
She's done a boss job of that,
hasn't she?
This is fab. The flowers
The colours are gorgeous as well.
This is Olivia's butterfly garden.
The butterfly was a workshop
that was done in school,
the kids from St Margaret Mary's.
A lot of them were Olivia's friends.
And I thought it would help
the children to remember Liv.
It's everything that Liv loved -
butterflies, the flowers,
the music notes.
It's so peaceful.
The minute you walk through
the gates,
it's like a ton weight's
been lifted.
You often get a butterfly
or a robin that comes down,
so I feel as though she's here
as well.
PRODUCER: Why is changing the law
important to you?
We see it as Olivia's Law.
For her to be remembered.
Erm She'll never
be forgotten anyway.
I couldn't help her that night
..and I managed
..the change of law in her name.
It's big.
The Crown Prosecution Service
has authorised Merseyside Police
to charge Thomas Cashman
with the murder
of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel.
We will see you in court.
Yeah, we will.
To clear my name.
OK.
If he was any type of man,
he'd admit what he's done.
Ashley Dale was murdered
in her own home.
The innocent victim of a
callous crime.
We'll never come to terms with it.
I'll never accept it.
She's not here.
She's not coming back.
She must have been so scared
when she heard the door
getting kicked in.
And she's confronted with someone
holding that.
AUTOMATIC GUNFIRE
I have never gone into a scene
like that to see just how determined,
whoever it was that's gone in,
there is just no-one getting
out of that house alive.
Niall Barry has been making threats
towards Lee,
saying that he's put
money on his head.
James, come with me, you're under
arrest for suspicion of murder.
These two work for Niall Barry.
And if they carried out the attack,
it'll be for him.
We believe that Witham and Peers
have left the Pilch Lane flat,
and then have used the Hyundai
to drive to Ashley's home address,
where the door has been forced
to the premises.
The gunman has entered,
which we believe is James Witham,
firing ten shots in Ashley's
direction,
and then has run out of the house.
We believe that Joseph Peers is
outside as more or less
the getaway driver of the Hyundai.
James, just before we go any
further,
I need to make you aware that the
interview
is being downstream monitored.
Members of the investigation team
will be monitoring the live feed
of that interview.
James, what do you know
about the murder of Ashley Dale?
Do you know anything about it?
Do you know why Ashley was shot
and killed?
OK, Joseph, we're really
interested in a grey Hyundai.
Do you recognise this vehicle?
No comment.
Have you ever driven the vehicle?
No comment.
We believe that vehicle was used
in the commission of
Ashley's murder.
That means it was used to take
the gunman to the address
..where Ashley was shot on the head,
she was forced.
To be more specific, James.
Did you have any part in forcing
the front door of Leinster Road?
So the forensic examination
of Leinster Road,
the CSI recovered a number
of footprint lifts
from inside the address.
And he said that the marks were left
by an On Cloudflyer trainer
..in a size 8.5.
Did you leave those footwear
marks in Leinster Road?
Or is it just a coincidence?
It's just part of the investigation.
We've conducted financial enquiries
on a Lloyds account held
in your name, and those records
show that
11.09 Saturday the 20th of August,
there was a transaction for £155
at Tesco Sports.
Do you know anything
about that transaction?
We're going to show you some
footage, James.
DCI CUMMINGS: He's sweating.
From isn't it - KMM4?
So this is footage from Tesco's.
Male comes to the till
..and purchases black On Cloudflyer
trainers..
..in a size 8.5.
Do you still have those
trainers, James?
Where are they now?
Exhibit DB-21.
This is a bullet casing
that has been left within the scene
at Leinster Road.
That specific casing has been
submitted for forensic analysis.
So the scientist reports,
"The reference DNA profile
"of James Witham is almost fully
represented within this result.
"As I might expect if he was a
contributor of DNA to this result."
So that bullet
casing has been analysed.
The scientist is saying
that has come from you.
Do you want to pause the interview?
If that's what he wants, yeah.
Yeah, that's fine.
OK, Joseph, have you got any
links to any organised crime group?
No comment.
As in what would be known
as the Barry OCG.
You linked to the Barry OCG?
No comment.
Niall Barry, he's sometimes
called Branch.
Does that mean anything to you?
That name?
No comment.
Did you have any contact with
Niall Barry, also known as Branch,
on the day of the murder?
No comment.
OK, James, that's recording
again there.
OK. Just before the break, James,
I explained to you about a
bullet casing
in the address where
Ashley Dale was murdered.
And I asked if there's anything
you'd like to say
about those results.
Was Ashley, the intended target,
James?
Were you aware
of any of your associates
being in dispute with Ashley?
Niall Barry, does that name mean
anything to you?
Do you know Niall?
Does the name Lee Harrison mean
anything to you, James?
So we know Lee to have been
the partner of Ashley
at the time she was killed.
Was Niall in dispute with Lee?
To your knowledge, did Niall
have any involvement in this murder?
I've got no further questions.
And the interview is halted.
Detectives send their evidence
to the Crown Prosecution Service
for a charging decision.
PHONE VIBRATES
Hello, Cath Cummings.
Are you?
Bail, it's not quite there on
an evidential threshold.
For God's sake!
Mr Witham, just want to step
up here for us, mate. OK.
But in relation to the murder
you allegedly been involved
with and arrested for, there's
decision being made
that you're going to be bailed
on that matter. OK?
The request on us is to convince
the CPS that it can't
have been anybody else.
So what we now need to do,
and really with a fine-tooth comb,
is go through all call data
for all those relevant people
that we believe were in the flat
earlier on that day
into the evening.
And then the two that leave can only
be Witham and Peers.
Why I feel frustrated is
having to go and explain
to the family, yeah, we have made
two arrests today,
but that unfortunately there
isn't sufficient to charge.
We've had to release them on bail.
Also, we as the police have now got
to manage these two individuals
in the communities, who also
have access to a firearm.
SIREN BLARES
The trial's getting under way
of the man accused of shooting dead
a nine-year-old girl at her home
in Liverpool last summer.
Thomas Cashman denies murdering
Olivia Pratt-Korbel in Dovecot.
Olivia's mother has just arrived
there she is surrounded
by friends and family.
The trial was moved from Liverpool
to Manchester
because they were concerned
at just how strong the feelings
were in Liverpool, and whether that
trial could be carried out fairly.
Judge Mrs Justice Yip noted
the details of the case
will be sensitive, and said
it would be normal for jurors
to experience emotions.
But she added, "It's important
you put your emotions aside
"when listening to the evidence."
Cashman insisted he
wasn't the gunman.
He claimed he'd been stitched
up and appearing to become tearful.
He told the jury, "I'm not
a killer, I'm a dad.
"I'm getting blamed for something
I haven't done."
So can you see
Cashman in the courtroom?
At the beginning, yes.
but they've pulled the blind
down on the side where I'm sat.
I'd been told he'd asked
for it to be pulled
down because we're intimidating.
Just by looking at him, and I've got
every right to look at him.
I needed to because I wanted to see
if there was any remorse
..and there wasn't.
Nothing.
It's listening to him
pleading his innocence,
which is more frustrating.
What are you doing just now?
Um, putting together my victim
impact statement.
There's so much that I want to put
in
..for people to understand,
and especially Cashman.
To understand who Liv was
..and for him to understand
what he's done.
Understand what we've lost.
"Liv never stopped talking.
"Literally never.
"I would do and give anything
in the world
"to have her chatting to me.
"It's so very lonely without her.
"She will never get to make her
holy communion,
"wear that prom dress
or have a Sweet 16 birthday.
"Walk down the aisle with the man
of her dreams, or become a mother
"of her own children.
"This happened in our home
where we felt safe,
"and that night when I realised Liv
had been shot and needed me
"..I was not able to do CPR properly
on her because of my injury.
"I did not have full use
of my hands and I felt helpless.
"My worst nightmare was being
separated from Liv
"and not being with her when she
needed me the most.
"I was the first person
to hold my baby girl,
"and as her mum, I should have been
the last.
"Now I have to drive to the cemetery
to be close to my baby daughter.
"I sit with her and talk to her,
telling her I miss her smile,
"her kisses, her cuddles, her voice.
"I tell her she will live
on in my heart.
"She will always be with us.
"My little shadow.
"We love you endless amounts, Liv."
And you'd like to say that to
Cashman?
Yeah.
Yeah, very much so.
Because Liv hasn't got
a voice any more.
I will be her voice.
APPLAUSE
Hundreds of balloons were released
in Sefton Park in Liverpool
in honour of Ashley Dale.
Friends and family gathered
to celebrate her life.
So I've known Ashley since
we were two years of age.
We've grown up together.
We've done everything together.
Went to secondary school together,
finished uni at the same time.
We should have had many
more milestones to come.
30th birthdays, babies, marriages.
I can't put into words how we feel
to have her taken from us.
She had a violent death
for just such a gentle soul.
If it can happen to Ashley,
it can happen to anyone.
And that's thescariest thing.
The gun crime in this city
has got to stop.
It's got to stop.
So we seized this phone,
which is an Encro enabled
phone from Niall Barry.
An Encro phone is a encrypted device.
This enables criminals to conduct
their activities undetected.
It can be anything from supplying
drugs, supplying firearms.
People like Barry thought that these
messages would stay private,
but our colleagues in Europe
cracked the encryption.
Detectives discover messages
Nigel Barry sent to Sean Zeisz,
a lieutenant in his OCG
who was with him on the night
of Ashley's murder.
Barry and Zeisz are shifting serious
quantities of drugs. Oh, yeah.
We've got Niall Barry being offered,
um, cocaine here.
"They look sound, bro.
I'll probably take four, bro.
"I'll take the four, and we'll pass
£80,000 up front today."
So he's got a lot of cash on him.
Niall Barry's clearly shopping
around for a firearm.
Jesus.
He's being offered two AK-47s. Nice.
85 sweets. So 85 bullets with each.
Yeah.
One TEC-9 self-loading pistol.
Yeah. With either 2 or 400 sweets.
Yeah. Quite interestingly,
one Scorpion with suppressor.
And said, "The scorp will defo have
get us prices."
The Scorpion submachine gun
was the same weapon that was used
to murder Ashley.
Yeah, it was. Yeah.
We've got a conversation
between Niall Barry and Sean Zeisz
regarding firearms here, mate.
They're plotting to attack someone
who's stolen Sean's electric bike.
It's quite scary the way it reads.
Go on.
Barry instructs Zeisz.
"Get that 38.
"Just get that and the scorp."
It looks like he's not scared to use
it as he tells Sean,
"I reckon we blaze both gaffs."
"Just wait for them to run out"
Yeah.
"..and when they do, just do them."
It sounds like he wants
to shoot him, dunnit?
He certainly does. And Sean
seems to agree - "100%", he says.
Good morning, everyone.
This who were looking to arrest
this morning, Niall Barry.
He was arrested initially on
suspicion of
the murder of Ashley Dale.
However, he is to be arrested
in relation
to a significant drug conspiracy.
He's also to be arrested
for conspiracy to possess a firearm
without certificate and conspiracy
to commit GBH.
What channel are we on?
Six, isn't it?
Yes. Niall Barry.
So it's N-I-A-L-L.
Get your cameras on.
It's open. It's open.
Property-wise, you say you've just
got cash on you,
is that all you've got?
I've got £120 in my pocket.
No problem. OK.
Right. OK.
Boss, we've got Barry.
Sean Zeisz, the man who was with
Barry on the night of Ashley's
murder, is also arrested.
Away from me, mate.
Eh, eh! Don't be making threats in
here.
Tell you that now.
Don't be making threats in here.
This interview is being digitally
audio recorded.
Is your lifestyle funded from you
selling drugs, Niall?
Quantities we have attributed
to yourself are 22.25kg of cocaine,
2.5kg of heroin and 27kg of cannabis.
You're also arrested for conspiracy
to possess a firearm
without a certificate and also
conspiracy to commit GBH.
Have you got any knowledge
of firearms at all, Niall?
Sean Zeisz, that's a friend of yours,
isn't it?
He's someone you do business
with nowadays.
You ever heard the term
"scorp" before, Sean?
Firearms expert suggested
that's a Czechoslovakian self-loading
pistol.
And then you say, "He's gonna have
to get it, ain't he?"
He's going to have to get what?
He's got to get what's coming to him?
"I reckon we blaze both gaffs
"..shoot at both gaffes and wait for
them to run out.
"When they do, just do them."
Is that you planning an attack
on the individuals responsible
..for stealing your bike?
Not just an attack, a firearms
attack.
Have we got anything wrong
there at all?
Sean, anything you want to add?
And the interview's now at an end.
Boss, the CPS have got back to us
about Barry and Zeisz.
Ellison's emailed me to say
he's had a look.
He's happy to charge with all
the offences that we thought.
Brilliant!
I want the family to know
first about the arrests
before anything goes out.
Yeah? Thank you.
No problem, no worries.
Right, OK, Sean.
Sean? Yeah.
Can you hear me, mate?
Yeah. Right, OK.
You conspired together with other
persons to supply
a quantity of cocaine - a controlled
drug of class A.
Is there any reply?
No reply.
You conspired together with other
persons to have in your possession
firearms, namely revolvers
and self-loading pistols.
And that's contrary to section 1-1
of the Criminal Law Act '77.
Any reply? No. No.
The charges for Barry and Zeisz
is fantastic news
at this stage of the murder
investigation, because what it means
is they will be remanded
into custody, which ultimately takes
them off the streets.
And just sign here for us, please.
The focus now at all levels across
the team
is for Witham and Peers that remain
on police bail and prove their
involvement in Ashley's murder.
Your bodycam's rolling, isn't it?
Police responding to an incident
in St Helens
make an unexpected discovery.
While I'm here, I'm just going to
check that, because there's
one outstanding for a very
serious offence.
Yep, that's the one.
There's a marker on in relation
to Ashley Dale's murder.
It's the vehicle linked for that.
Don't go anywhere near it.
I knew it was.
It's on a false plate.
And it's on a false plate.
The Hyundai Fastback is examined
for any evidence
that may link it to the shooting.
It's weird seeing it in person.
I've been looking at on CCTV for
weeks and weeks and weeks.
I know, yeah. I know.
Yeah, I'm amazed it's not on a boat
to China.
Fingers crossed they'll find
something that connects
Witham and Peers to this car.
Detectives analyse call data from
phones used by the suspects
on the night of Ashley's murder.
Morning, boss. I've just gone
through the CCTV and the telecoms,
and we've produced a sequence
of events.
We've got some CCTV of Joseph Peers
going to the local shop
next to the flat, where we can see
that Peers purchases a SIM card.
Now, when we done some enquiries,
that SIM card was used
nine minutes later by Barry.
First-ever used.
But that makes some significant
calls later on
in the lead-up to the murder.
That's on the CCTV. Obviously, the
two of them have left the flat,
Witham and Peers,
and that's at 2210.
You then see at 2243,
that SIM card attempts to make
a one-second phone call to Witham.
But it's Witham just left the flat?
Yes.
And then you've also got, ten
seconds later, Barry then tries
to speak to Joseph Peers
for two seconds.
So, because he can't get hold of
Witham, he then tries Peers.
He does, yeah.
So, that shows that by that time
they're still together, aren't they?
Yes. Well, he thinks that they're
still together. Yeah.
So, then we move forward.
2310, Sean Zeisz makes a 23-second
phone call to Joseph Peers.
That is about 26 minutes before
the tyres are slashed
on Ashley's vehicle.
You'll see from the cell site at
the time, Witham, just before
the tyres are slashed,
his cell site's within the area
of Ashley Dale's home address.
Wow. God, that's significant,
isn't it? Yeah.
So, we believe that Ashley was
murdered at approximately 0033.
The next phone call we've got
is at 0047.
Sean Zeisz makes two attempts calls
to Joseph Peers.
And then we'll see the first
successful contact at 0059.
So, about 27 minutes after Ashley
was murdered,
and that's Joseph Peers to
Sean Zeisz.
Shortly after that phone call,
Niall Barry is checking the
Liverpool Echo, at 1:01 and 1:03.
At 0125, we're seeing James Whitham
and Joseph Peers
returning to the flat.
Whilst they're still in the flat,
at 0138, now Barry's making
a further Google search on
the Liverpool Echo,
and that continues into the early
hours of the morning.
That is the first press release.
So, that's at 0926.
30 minutes later, now Barry
accesses the Liverpool Echo.
So, basically, we've got now Barry
and Sean Zeisz in that flat,
trying to get hold of the only
two people that have left it. Yes.
James Witham and Joseph Peers.
This could be enough now to charge
the two of them.
Hello. Is it James?
What?
What's your name? James.
You're currently under arrest
for murder, all right. What?
You do not have to say anything,
but it may harm your defence
if you don't mention when questioned
something you later rely on
in court. Anything you do say
may be given in evidence.
Just take a seat in there for me,
mate.
Mr Witham, do you know why
you're here?
Do you understand that you've been
arrested on suspicion of murder?
The murder of Ashley Dale.
Are you staying silent now
because you've been told to?
Who has the type of power to
silence you like that?
So, in your first set of interviews,
we spoke about a vehicle
which was key to the offence, which
was, namely, a grey Hyundai i30.
Do you know anything further about
that vehicle at this point?
No comment.
Merseyside Police have discovered
the grey Hyundai.
So, we've forensically examined
the vehicle, James.
And there's one exhibit that I want
to discuss with you,
which is exhibit reference SM81.
It's a black bottle top from the
rear nearside footwell
of the vehicle.
Your DNA is present on that
bottle top.
To your knowledge, have you and
Joseph, ever shared a bottled drink?
The major DNA profile matches
the reference DNA profile
for Joseph Peers.
So, can you account of how that
has come to be in that car?
No comment.
Because you've been in that car,
simple as that.
No comment.
We're going to move on to some
telecoms evidence.
Mobile phone number which
we've linked to you,
coincidentally, powers down
before the murder takes place.
There's Pilch Lane flat.
There's the murder scene.
And there's round about where
you were
when you switched your phone off.
Roughly, four-minute journey
in a car.
Do you find that interesting, James?
Because what's interesting,
as well, is your mate,
Joseph Peers, switches his phone off
at about the same time.
And, interestingly,
he switched his back on again
three minutes after Ashley
was murdered.
Why did your phone go silent?
Because it seems to us on the
investigation team that,
well, perhaps you were just about to
go and do something highly illegal.
Highly dangerous.
Something that you might get in
a lot of trouble for.
Mr Witham, this is your last chance.
Do you want to tell us
absolutely anything about anything
that we've spelled out here?
Are you protecting the person
who murdered Ashley Dale
with your silence?
Is it easier not to say anything
and take the repercussions,
whatever they may be, than
risk the repercussions of talking?
Or is it that there's
an agreed code of silence?
I've got no further questions.
Nothing from me.
Charge is coming across now.
Dead nervous!
Has it come through?
Right. Brilliant.
Just had the authorities
to charge through from CPS.
So, are you free now
to put those charges on?
Yes. Of course.
I'll put the charge.
Possession of a firearm
and murder for both.
Full Code Test applied.
Well done. I know this is a lot
to do, butfantastic result.
I'm just racing out
to the family now.
You all right, James?
So a decision has come back
and you're going to be charged.
First charge is one for murder.
On the 21st of August 2022,
at Leinster Road,
Liverpool, Merseyside,
you murdered Ashley Dale,
contrary to common law.
Any reply to that first charge?
No.
You, without the authority of
the Secretary of State,
purchased or acquired a firearm -
namely a Skorpion machine pistol.
And that's contrary to Section 51A
and Schedule 6
of the Firearms Act 1968.
NEWSREADER: Two men have been
remanded in custody,
charged with the murder of
Ashley Dale in Liverpool.
They're due to appear again
at Liverpool Crown Court
later this week.
REPORTER: Thomas Cashman, guilty of
the murder of Olivia Pratt-Korbel
Yes!
..guilty, in fact,
on all five counts.
REPORTER: Gasps and tears,
we're told,
from Olivia's family
as the verdicts returned
and Cashman turning back to
his family, shaking his head.
NEWSREADER: We're standing by
for the sentencing
at Manchester Crown Court
of Thomas Cashman,
found guilty of the murder of
nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel.
While we continue to wait for
the sentencing of Thomas Cashman,
there has been a delay
because Thomas Cashman wishes
to be sentenced in his absence.
He is refusing to enter
the courtroom.
Mr Cashman has been brought
to court today
but has refused to come from
the cells to be sentenced.
I am therefore left with no choice
but to sentence him in his absence.
I now pronounce the sentence.
On count one, for the murder
of Olivia Pratt-Korbel,
the sentence will be
life imprisonment.
The minimum term will be 42 years
Oh! ..plus the time the defendant
has already spent on remand.
CHEERING
42 years, that's a huge
minimum sentence,
which means that he will be 76
before he's got any chance
of being released.
My thanks go to the witnesses
who bravely assisted
the prosecution case
and defied the usual stance of
"People do not grass."
Today's sentence will never
bring Olivia back.
I hope that the sentence of 42 years
given to Thomas Cashman today
will act as a deterrent for anyone
who thinks of picking up a gun
and putting our communities at risk
through their reckless behaviour.
Thank you. Thank you all.
We're going to head over that way.
REPORTER: On the streets
of Liverpool
is a family determined
to make itself heard.
Hi! Would you like to support
our online petition today
to support Face the Family? It's to
make offenders to stand up in court
and face the family
rather than hiding themselves.
They're calling for a change
in the law to force criminals
to attend their sentencing.
Basically, do you remember
little Olivia?
It's that lady, isn't it? Yeah.
Yeah, yeah.
That's Liv, and I'm her sister.
Trying to get as many signatures
as we can,
make this change in the law,
not so much to look him in the eye -
because I knew he wouldn't look me
in the eye -
but for him to hear the pain
that we went through,
the pain that he caused.
PRODUCER: And what was it like
for you when he didn't?
It was like a punch in the stomach.
Hi, guys. Would you like to help
sign our petition, please?
Face the Family campaign.
Get offenders into the dock.
Going to prison is supposed
to be a rehabilitation.
That first port of call
of rehabilitation
should be in that courtroom.
Actions speak louder than words,
and we said we were going to
make a noise
and that's exactly
what we're doing today.
NEWSREADER: Four men
have each been told
that they will spend
more than 40 years in prison
for murdering Ashley Dale
in Liverpool last August.
REPORTER: The prosecution saying
this was a deliberate and merciless
intent to kill, that James Whitham
and Joseph Peers were dispatched
to assassinate Lee Harrison
and leave no witnesses.
REPORTER: Niall Barry, the main
instigator of the shooting,
got life with a minimum of 47 years.
Gunman James Witham
will serve at least 43 years,
another plotter, Sean Zeisz,
42 years,
and getaway driver Joseph Peers,
41 years.
As James Witham stormed into
Ashley's home that night,
wearing a balaclava, firing from
a Skorpion submachine gun,
he took away Ashley, an ambitious,
bubbly, charismatic young woman -
the community rocked,
her family and friends
left devastated.
Whilst they will never get over
losing their Ashley,
following today's results,
I and the rest of the team hope
they will find some comfort
in the knowledge
that those responsible will spend
the rest of their lives behind bars.
The biggest thing
that came out for me in the court
was that this feud that had been
going on with the defendant
and Ashley's boyfriend, Lee, Ashley
had major anxietiesover it.
And that came out in court and
we didn't know anything about it.
And that That is probably
one of the hardest parts for me,
that me and Ashley were so close,
but she didn't feel able to come
and talk about them anxieties
that she had.
I don't think for one minute
she thought that
something this serious would happen,
cos who would?
Who would think that someone is
going to burst into your home
at half past midnight at night
and fire 15 shots? No-one.
It doesn't happen, it's not
heard of, but it's happened to us.
PRODUCER: What was it like
reading out
your victim impact statement
in court?
I felt like that was my only chance
to be able to speak to the defendant
and look them in the eye and tell
them what they've done to my family.
And I addressed James Witham
by name
when I told him that I hope he sees
my baby girl's face every night
when he goes to sleep
and he walked out the dock.
Why do you think he walked out
of the dock?
Cos he knew what he'd done
and, yeah, he couldn't take it.
He couldn't face it.
A couple of months after
this happened to Ashley,
her work colleagues thought about
doing, like, a tribute.
We thought the park where she loved
coming would be a perfect place,
somewhere to come
and remember Ashley.
She was my daughter. She was,
you know, very important to me.
Sorry.
She loved life.
She just brought joy to us
all the time.
Losing her, it's just left a hole
in our family.
It's just a hole
that will never be filled.
Hi. Morning. Morning. How are you?
Yeah, not too bad. I'm Rishi.
Cheryl. Very nice to see you,
Cheryl. Nice to meet you.
REPORTER: This was the day
Cheryl Korbel's determination
to secure her daughter's legacy
brought her
to the Prime Minister's door.
For the person responsible not to
show up to his sentencing hearing
is just profoundly wrong.
It's not It's not right.
And I could see all the emotion
that you had put into
your impact statement.
And it's not an easy thing to do.
This is the thing.
Like, after you have put all of that
of yourself into it,
for him to just take
the easy way out
and then not have to hear that
and face up to what he's done,
it just It isn't right.
And that's why today,
we're announcing
that we're going to change that.
So it won't be possible any longer
for people like him
to take the coward's way out.
When the Prime Minister met
Cheryl Korbel today, he was able
to pledge that the change in the law
that she and other families
have been campaigning for
will now take place.
Under new rules, judges
will be able to force offenders
to attend sentencing hearings.
Some flowers.
Boss, isn't it?
Yeah.
She's done a boss job of that,
hasn't she?
This is fab. The flowers
The colours are gorgeous as well.
This is Olivia's butterfly garden.
The butterfly was a workshop
that was done in school,
the kids from St Margaret Mary's.
A lot of them were Olivia's friends.
And I thought it would help
the children to remember Liv.
It's everything that Liv loved -
butterflies, the flowers,
the music notes.
It's so peaceful.
The minute you walk through
the gates,
it's like a ton weight's
been lifted.
You often get a butterfly
or a robin that comes down,
so I feel as though she's here
as well.
PRODUCER: Why is changing the law
important to you?
We see it as Olivia's Law.
For her to be remembered.
Erm She'll never
be forgotten anyway.
I couldn't help her that night
..and I managed
..the change of law in her name.
It's big.