Ninth arrest made in Olivia Pratt-Korbel murder investigation
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A ninth person has been arrested in connection with the murder of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel at her Dovecot home.
Olivia was fatally shot in the chest when a gunman chased another man into her house on Kingsheath Avenue, on August 22.
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Hide AdHer mother, Cheryl Korbel, was shot in the arm as she struggled to close the door on the intruders.
The gunman’s intended target - convicted burglar Joseph Nee - was also shot after bursting into their home as he fled the shooter. Both were treated in hospital for their injuries.
Ms Korbel, 46, had opened the door to investigate a disturbance in the street.
Arrests and bail
On Friday night, detectives arrested a 37-year-old man from West Derby on suspicion of assisting an offender. He has been taken into custody where he is being questioned by detectives.
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Hide AdTwo men arrested on Thursday have now been released on police bail pending further inquries.
The men, aged 18 years and 37 years, who both come from the West Derby area, were arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.
Nine people have now been arrested during the course of the murder investigation.
Merseyside Police continue to appeal for people with information to come forward as they attempt to build up ‘a strong evidential picture’ in order to bring the killer to justice.
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Hide AdFour men arrested last weekend in connection with the murder of Olivia were conditionally bailed this week. Detectives were granted a 36 hour extension to question three of them, including a 34-year-old man from Liverpool, charged with suspicion of murder.
Mother of Olivia makes emotional appeal
On Tuesday, the mother of Olivia called on those responsible for her daughter’s murder to ‘own up’ in an emotional video appeal.
Ms Korbel also paid tribute to her “little shadow”.
She appeared in the video appeal wearing a cast on her wrist where she had been shot and said she hoped whoever was responsible for the killing would come forward.
Ms Korbel said: “You know you’ve done wrong, so you need to own up. Like I taught my kids, you do something wrong, you own up to it.
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Hide Ad“If anyone is hiding these guns they need to speak up because they need to be off the streets. No one, no one at all should have to go through this.”
Ms Korbel broke down in tears as she described how her daughter would never stop talking and said: “That’s what I miss the most, because I can’t hear her talk.”
Olivia’s father, John Francis Pratt, also paid tribute to his daughter and called for anyone with information on her death to come forward.
Cheryl Korbel paid tribute to her “little shadow” and urged the killer to come forward. Image: Merseyside Police