Man arrested on suspicion of murder of Olivia Pratt-Korbel

A thirty-six-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of Olivia Pratt-Korbel in Liverpool, police have just announced.

The man, believed to be from the Huyton area, was arrested after an operation involving armed police last night (August 25th). He is currently in custody being questioned by detectives.

He was also arrested on two counts of attempted murder.

Nine-year-old Olivia was fatally shot when a gunman forced his way into her home in Knotty Ash,  Liverpool, while chasing another man on Monday evening. 

The killer put his hand through the doorway of the property in Kingsheath Avenue as Olivia’s mum Cheryl Korbel tried to ram it shut. There, he opened fire.

Olivia’s mum Cheryl was shot in the wrist and the youngster was hit in the chest. She later died from her injuries in Alder Hey Hospital.

In the days following her death, the man who was chased into her home and shot was arrested and remanded to prison.

Joseph Nee, thirty-five, had previously been jailed for drug offences, theft of a motor vehicle, dangerous driving, driving without insurance, and driving while disqualified.

Police confirmed Nee will be further questioned in connection with the murder.

Merseyside Police said the two people in the Audi that picked up Nee from the scene had been traced and spoken to by officers.

Another man, who was with Nee at the time of the shooting, had also been spoken to, the force said.

This comes after Olivia’s family urged people to come forward with information on her killer, saying it is not about being a ‘snitch’ or a ‘grass’, but about finding out who ‘took our baby away from us’.

They said in a statement to the Liverpool Echo: “We as a family are heartbroken and have lost a huge part of our life.

“If anyone knows anything, now is the time to speak up. It is not about being a ‘snitch’ or a ‘grass’ it is about finding out who took our baby away from us.

“PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING.”

Paying tribute to the youngster, her family said: “Liv was a unique chatty, nosey little girl who broke the mould when she was born. She loved life and all it had to offer.

“Liv loved dressing up and was very particular on how she was dressed, like any other little girl she loved doing her makeup and nails, she was nine going on nineteen.

“Liv was adored by everyone who knew her and would instantly make friends with anyone and everyone.

“Although her life was short, her personality certainly wasn’t and she lived it to the most she could, and would blow people away with her wit and kindness.”