01 April 2023 , 20:00
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Police are set to look again at a cold case murder linked to child killer Thomas Cashman.
The gunman – who will be jailed for life this week for killing nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel – was quizzed over the 2013 death of Karl Bradley, 31.
Bradley – brother of Liverpool gang thug Kirk Bradley – was shot four times and was found in a garden. No one was charged but Cashman was later quizzed on suspicion of murder.
Detectives will now review his alleged involvement. A source said: “Cashman was a prime suspect but police struggled to break a wall of silence. Now a convicted child killer, Cashman has no allies in the city. There is a feeling they won’t protect him.”
Olivia was fatally shot in the chest at her home in Liverpool (PA)
Olivia was killed in August last year (PA)Shortly after Bradley’s murder, Cashman fled to Spain and, sources say, was a “gun for hire” for drug gangs – and known as the Crazy Scouser.
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A number of killings in Spain are unsolved and a source said: “He operated like a ghost. There will be fresh questions about what he got up to.”
Cashman, 34, shot Olivia and injured mum Cheryl during a failed attempt on the life of a crime rival who burst into their home. Cashman – also linked to two other “hits” – was feared in Liverpool’s Dovecot area as a £5,000-a-week cannabis dealer.
He was said to be in tears at Strangeways jail after his conviction on Thursday. We can reveal how fellow criminals taunted him on remand.
Police at the scene of Karl Bradley's killing in 2013 (liverpool echo)One letter, intercepted by jail staff, read: “When some loon throws chip fat on your face for killing a little girl you will end up on high protection with sex monsters and other child killers like yourself.
“Let me give you a look at the next 50 years for you. Your face will have scars all over from attacks by other prisoners. The bird you were seeing before you got nicked will be happy and settled with grandkids.
“Then you will grow into a very old bitter man. Checkmate bro – you lose.”
Merseyside Police was approached for comment.