Thomas Cashman has been found guilty of murdering nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel, who was shot dead in her Liverpool home in Dovecot on August 22 last year.
Crimestoppers were previously offering £200,000 for information leading to the conviction of those responsible for the the young girl, in what happens to be the biggest single reward offer in the charity’s history.
Throughout the trial, the 34-year-old has denied being the gunman who also injured Olivia’s mother Cheryl Korbel, 46, and Joseph Nee, believed to be the intended target.
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Cannabis dealer and father-of-two Cashman told the court: “I’m not a killer, I’m a dad.”
However, a jury at Manchester Crown Court found him guilty of the murder of Olivia, the attempted murder of Nee, wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm to Ms Korbel, and two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.
The jury heard that the schoolgirl ran downstairs after hearing shots outside, saying 'I’m scared mummy, I’m scared'.
Detective Superintendent Mark Baker, the senior investigating officer in the case, said: “When he found out that he had shot an innocent young girl, he should have had the courage to stand up and come forward.
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“Instead, he chose to lie low despite the fact that he was a dad himself.
“He is not worthy of walking the streets of Merseyside, and neither are those who think they can bring fear or intimidation to our communities through use of firearms.”
The bullet that killed the young girl was fired through the front door, hitting Ms Korbel in the hand and striking Olivia in the chest.
Cashman fired two more shots into the Korbel family home, one which killed Olivia and the other which became lodged in the door.
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He then fled the scene, running through the back gardens.
Featured Image Credit: Family Handout/ PA Images/ AlamyTopics: UK News