Renewed appeal by Merseyside Police in hunt for Olivia’s killer
DETECTIVES investigating the murder of Olivia Pratt-korbel in Liverpool have renewed their appeal for the public’s help to catch her killer after two men arrested in connection with the shooting were bailed.
Merseyside Police warned anyone who was withholding information that they were “protecting killers”.
The nine-year-old was shot dead in her home a week ago when convicted drug dealer, Joseph Nee, burst into her home after being chased by an armed rival. Her heartbroken family have appealed for locals with information to break the code of silence telling them: “It’s not about being a snitch or a grass, it’s about doing the right thing.”
Following their appeal two men, aged 36 and 33, were arrested on suspicion of murder, but both were bailed by police over the weekend.
However, the 36-year-old has been returned to prison for breaching the terms of his licence.
Olivia’s death was the third gunrelated murder in a week on Merseyside following the fatal shootings of 22-yearold Sam Rimmer in the Dingle area and 28-year-old council worker Ashley Dale in Old Swan.
Merseyside Police has since launched a crackdown on organised crime resulting in 170 arrests and the seizure of drugs and firearms. More than 50 raids have been carried out across the region and detectives said they had received almost 300 tip-offs from members of the public about organised crime.
Renewing their appeal for more help from the public, a video released yesterday by Merseyside Police said: “We’ve got parents who’ve lost their children. We’ve got a nine-year-old girl who won’t celebrate her 18th birthday. She won’t celebrate her wedding. She won’t have children of her own.
“If you’ve got information and you’re withholding it, you’re protecting the killers … Provide that information to us and we’ll do the rest.”
Merseyside Police stressed it was vital people came forward “so we can build up a strong evidential picture and bring those responsible to justice”.
In other social media appeals, police have insisted “silence is not an option”.
Warning that there is “no hiding place for anyone involved in the murder of little Olivia”, they added: “We need names.”