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Two men arrested over Olivia Pratt-Korbel murder released on bail

Two men arrested over Olivia Pratt-Korbel murder released on bail
Detectives said they need to be able to ‘build up a strong evidential picture’ after the killing (Picture: PA)

Two men arrested as part of the investigation into the murder of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel have been released on bail.

Detectives said they need to be able to ‘build up a strong evidential picture’ after the killing and reiterated their appeal for information about a vehicle at the scene on the night of the shooting.

The 36-year-old suspect, from Huyton, has been recalled to prison after breaching the terms of his licence.

Both he and the 33-year-old man, from Dovecot, were also arrested on suspicion of two counts of attempted murder.

Undated family handout photo issued by Merseyside Police of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel who was fatally shot on Monday night at her home in Kingsheath Avenue, Knotty Ash, Liverpool. The people of Liverpool have been urged to turn in the masked gunman who killed Olivia as he chased his intended target into her home. Picture date: Wednesday August 24, 2022. PA Photo. Joseph Nee, 35, from the Dovecot area of Liverpool, is understood to be the man hurt in the violence that left Olivia dead and her mother wounded on Monday. He forced his way in to her family home while trying to flee a masked gunman, and while the little girl lay dying, Nee, who was also shot, was taken to hospital by his friends in a black Audi. Merseyside Police have refused to publicly identify Nee, but earlier said a 35-year-old man injured in the shooting would be recalled to prison for breaching the terms of his release. See PA story POLICE KnottyAsh. Photo credit should read: Family Handout/PA Wire
Olivia was shot on Monday night after a gunman chased his intended target (Picture: PA)
Flowers are left near to the scene of an incident in Kingsheath Avenue, Knotty Ash, Liverpool, where nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel was fatally shot on Monday night. Picture date: Thursday August 25, 2022. PA Photo. Joseph Nee, 35, from the Dovecot area of Liverpool, is understood to be the man hurt in the violence that left Olivia dead and her mother wounded on Monday. He forced his way in to her family home while trying to flee a masked gunman, and while the little girl lay dying, Nee, who was also shot, was taken to hospital by his friends in a black Audi. Merseyside Police have refused to publicly identify Nee, but earlier said a 35-year-old man injured in the shooting would be recalled to prison for breaching the terms of his release. See PA story POLICE KnottyAsh. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire
Flowers are left near to the scene of an incident in Kingsheath Avenue, Knotty Ash (Picture: PA)
Detectives investigating the murder of Olivia Platt-Korbel in Dovecot are issuing an image of an Audi Q3 which forms part of the investigation, and aerial footage of last night's arrest of a 36-year-old on suspicion of murder. Officers attended at a house on Kingsheath Avenue, Dovecot at 10pm on Monday night after reports that an unknown male had fired a gun inside the property, resulting in the death of nine-year-old Olivia and injuries to her mother and a 35-year-old man. The Audi Q3 is believed to have taken the 35-year-old man who was injured in the shooting to hospital. We are keen to speak to anyone who saw this car in the days leading up to the shooting, or has any information about its movements after leaving Kingsheath Avenue on the night. We have seized this vehicle and it is in process of being forensically examined.
Detectives released an image of an Audi Q3 which forms part of the investigation (Picture: Merseyside Police)

Olivia was shot on Monday night after a gunman chased his intended target, who has been named as convicted burglar Joseph Nee, into the family home in Dovecot, also injuring the girl’s mother Cheryl, 46.

Merseyside Police said in a statement: ‘Our investigation into Olivia’s tragic murder is ongoing and we still need people to come forward so we can build up a strong evidential picture and bring those responsible to justice.

‘We are still appealing to anyone who saw a black Audi Q3 car in the days leading up to the shooting, or has any information about its movements after leaving Kingsheath Avenue on the night of the shooting.’

The force has previously released an image of a black Audi Q3, which has been seized and which they believe is the same car used to take 35-year-old Nee to hospital.

Police also pushed their appeal for information on social media, insisting ‘silence is not an option’.

Undated family handout photo issued by Merseyside Police of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel was fatally shot on Monday night at her home in Kingsheath Avenue, Knotty Ash, Liverpool. The people of Liverpool have been urged to turn in the masked gunman who killed Olivia as he chased his intended target into her home. Picture date: Wednesday August 24, 2022. PA Photo. Joseph Nee, 35, from the Dovecot area of Liverpool, is understood to be the man hurt in the violence that left Olivia dead and her mother wounded on Monday. He forced his way in to her family home while trying to flee a masked gunman, and while the little girl lay dying, Nee, who was also shot, was taken to hospital by his friends in a black Audi. Merseyside Police have refused to publicly identify Nee, but earlier said a 35-year-old man injured in the shooting would be recalled to prison for breaching the terms of his release. See PA story POLICE KnottyAsh. Photo credit should read: Family Handout/PA Wire
Olivia’s family have urged people to ‘do the right thing’ (Picture: PA)

The force tweeted: ‘A simple request – share this far and wide, to everyone you know, and ask them to share it further still, so that there’s no hiding place for anyone involved in the murder of little Olivia.

‘We need names. Silence is not an option.’

Assistant mayor of Liverpool Harry Doyle said people had come forward in the days since the murder, because they ‘want to see justice’ for the little girl and her loved ones, and that the arrests had brought ‘a sense of hope and relief’.

Olivia’s family have urged people to ‘do the right thing’, saying that speaking up ‘is not about being a “snitch” or a “grass”, it is about finding out who took our baby away from us’.

Meanwhile, Mr Doyle said a £500,000 package of support announced by the Home Office ‘doesn’t touch the sides’ and what the community affected in Liverpool needs is ‘long-term solutions’.

Some £350,000 will be used to expand a pilot scheme as part of efforts to tackle organised crime in Merseyside, while £150,000 will provide trauma and mental health support in the Liverpool and Knowsley areas, the Government announced.

Home Secretary Priti Patel (centre) visits the scene in Kingsheath Avenue, Knotty Ash, Liverpool, where nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel was fatally shot on Monday night. Picture date: Friday August 26, 2022. PA Photo. A 36-year-old man from the Huyton area of Liverpool has been arrested on suspicion of the murder and is in custody being questioned by detectives. He was arrested after an operation involving armed officers in Merseyside on Thursday night. See PA story POLICE KnottyAsh. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire
Home Secretary Priti Patel (centre) visits the scene (Picture: PA)

Mr Doyle said budgets had been ‘decimated over the years’, including those for youth grants.

He told BBC Breakfast: ‘What our community needs is long-term solutions and funding support solutions for the kids here on the street who were Olivia’s friends.’

Anyone with CCTV/dashcam/smart doorbell footage that they think could help police in their investigation can be submit it on the Public Portal at mipp.police.uk, police said.

Separately, a fourth person has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of 22-year-old Sam Rimmer, who was shot in Dingle, Liverpool, on Tuesday, August 16.

Police said the 23-year-old man from Liverpool was being interviewed by detectives on Saturday.

Two men aged 21 and 20, and a 17-year-old boy, who were also arrested on suspicion of murder, have been bailed.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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