Cashman’s last determined menace to ‘confederate’ in Olivia killing

Paul Russell, the person who assisted Olivia Pratt-Korbel’s killer, Thomas Cashman, advised detectives he was “terrified” of the drug seller. He additionally revealed that Cashman gave him a last sickening message. Russell, 41, who has been jailed for 22 months for helping an offender, stated that Cashman had a “reputation” and that “people were scared of him” throughout his interview in custody.

Russell disposed of Cashman’s clothes and in addition gave him a elevate again to his van, within the wake of the brutal killing of Olivia on August 22 2022, reported the Liverpool Echo.

Prosecutor Henry Riding learn extracts from Russell’s interview with police on August 28 2022 to Liverpool Crown Court throughout his sentencing on Wednesday.

He advised officers of the second he acquired a name from his girlfriend, informing him that Cashman was at her home: “When she phoned me, my heart. My world just fell apart. I don’t like him anyway.”

Reflecting on seeing the kid killer at his girlfriend’s property, Russell stated: “I did not wanna see him to be truthful. Devastated.”

He stated he had recognized Cashman “for years”, however insisted they had been “not like friends or nothing like that.

“Why’s he trust me? I’m not his mate or nothing.”

Russell described his interaction with the gunman at the house, saying: “I’m not sure if he said ‘can I do a joint?’. I’m not sure. See look, I just wanted him out me house. That was it.

“That was my main objective, I didn’t want him in. I didn’t wanna drop him off, didn’t want to. I was thinking of something in that split second what I could say something not to drop him off, but there was nothing for me to say. But me missus wanted him gone fast.”

Cashman managed to find a way into Russell’s partner’s house via the open back door. Russell said: “If I could turn the back the clock now, I’d have locked the door. He was there for five or 10 minutes while I was there and was gone.”

Russell conceded he was frightened of the 34-year-old “high-level” drug dealer, saying: “He’s received a popularity clearly, hasn’t he? People are afraid of him.”

Russell reiterated that was “actually scared”, adding: “Look. I’m petrified of him.”

In a chilling detail, Russell claimed that the killer gave him a stark warning.

The day after the killing, Cashman drove past the property, “pulling up and saying ‘do not say nothing’.

“He was whispering summat to me again. Again, I couldn’t really make it out. He’s saying ‘don’t say nothing’. It was proper low.”

Manchester Crown Court heard in the course of the Cashman trial, that the killer “garden hopped” to Russell’s girlfriend’s home following the capturing. The girlfriend can’t be named, nevertheless reported she contacted Russell after being woken by Cashman by her mattress.

Russell went to the deal with after receiving the decision, the place Cashman is alleged to have advised him: “I’ve done Joey”. ‘Joey’ it’s believed was a reference to Joseph Nee, who was Cashman’s meant goal when he shot and killed nine-year-old Olivia.

Russell stated in response: “Lad, don’t wanna hear it, don’t tell me nothing”. The 41-year-old then drove Cashman to Aspes Road, the place he’d parked his Citroen Berlingo van.