Mother of Olivia Pratt-Korbel Issues Powerful Gun Crime Plea

Published: 18 August 2025. The English Chronicle Desk

Nearly three years after the tragic murder of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel in her own home, her mother has issued a heartfelt and powerful appeal for communities to take a stand against gun crime. Olivia’s death, which shocked the nation and drew widespread condemnation, has continued to cast a long shadow over Merseyside, highlighting the devastating consequences of gang-related violence and the urgent need for collective action.

Olivia was fatally shot on 22 August 2022, when drug dealer Thomas Cashman chased a rival into her family’s home in the Dovecot area of Liverpool. The child, described as fun-loving and full of life, became an innocent victim of a violent feud that had nothing to do with her. Her killing occurred in the midst of one of Merseyside’s darkest weeks, which saw three fatal shootings in just seven days. On 16 August, 22-year-old Sam Rimmer was killed in Dingle, followed two days later by the shooting of 28-year-old Ashley Dale in her home in Old Swan, before Olivia’s death completed a devastating cycle of violence.

Speaking as the third anniversary of her daughter’s death approaches, Olivia’s mother, Cheryl Korbel, expressed her grief in words that resonated far beyond her own personal tragedy. “My little girl was only nine years old when she was shot in her own home. She had her whole life ahead of her and the pain of her loss is indescribable,” she said. “It has been three years since I last heard her laugh, put her to bed or held her hand but the pain of her loss still feels like it happened yesterday. I will never see her grow up, get married, have children of her own or fulfil her dreams, and that is devastating.”

In the wake of Olivia’s killing and other gun-related tragedies, Merseyside Police received Home Office funding to launch a Clear, Hold, Build initiative – known locally as Evolve – to clear communities of criminal networks and rebuild them with long-term safety in mind. Ms Korbel has welcomed the progress the scheme has made but stressed that success depends on the courage of local communities. “Evolve was created to help prevent further tragedies and other families from having to endure the pain we feel every single day. While it’s making a difference, we need your help. To keep our communities safest, if you know anything about criminality, please speak out.”

Last week, Ms Korbel visited “Olivia’s Tree,” a memorial planted in her daughter’s honour, where she met representatives of the Evolve programme alongside other bereaved families who share her grief. Among them was Tim Edwards, whose 26-year-old daughter Elle Edwards was killed on Christmas Eve 2022 outside a pub on the Wirral. He described the solidarity that has developed among families affected by gun crime. “It’s the club that you don’t want to be in and we’re all in that club, so we’re always looking out for each other,” he said. Despite his pain, Mr Edwards said he finds hope in the community-based initiatives now in place. “Elle should still be here, living her life and making plans for her future. We can’t change what happened to her but we can help stop it from happening to someone else. If you know something, please come forward. Your courage could save a life and spare another family the pain we live with every day.”

Ashley Dale’s mother, Julie, who has endured what she describes as a “living nightmare” since her daughter’s murder, echoed the call for justice. Four men were convicted of Ashley’s killing, which brought some closure to her family. Yet Julie acknowledged that many other families are still waiting. “Sadly, there are families who are still waiting for their justice knowing that their loved one’s killers are still out there walking our streets. No parent should have to go through this. Losing a child in such a horrific way and knowing that someone knows who has committed these crimes is just unbearable. So I appeal to anyone who may have information that could help give the families the justice they deserve to please come forward to police or Crimestoppers.”

For the family of Sam Rimmer, however, the wait for justice continues. No one has been charged in connection with his death, which occurred when gunmen on electric bikes fired at him and his friends. His mother, Jo Rimmer, issued her own plea: “If you know something and you are reading this, please, please speak up. No one will ever know, as it will be completely anonymous. Sam was shot in his back. He was turned away from his killers. This image haunts me. In his final moments, was he scared? Was he in pain? I died the day Sam did. I function but I do not live. I know the pain of losing Sam will never go, but if I see justice for his murder, maybe the family and I can begin to move forward and remember the happy memories of Sam.”

As the anniversary of Olivia Pratt-Korbel’s death approaches, the words of her mother and other grieving families serve as a stark reminder that the fight against gun crime is not simply a matter of policing but one of community solidarity. The Evolve programme has made progress, but the success of such initiatives depends on individuals coming forward, breaking the silence, and refusing to allow fear to protect those who destroy lives.

For families who have lost children, siblings, and loved ones, justice is not only about punishment but also about ensuring that no other parent has to experience the same anguish. Their pleas echo across Merseyside and beyond: courage and cooperation are essential to making communities safe, and silence can no longer be an option.