Witness who ‘broke code’ at Thomas Cashman trial ‘received most death threats ever’
Thomas Cashman’s ex-lover who broke the ‘criminal code’ and turned star witness may face years in a witness protection programme.
The prosecution’s unnamed witness once had a fling with Cashman, who was this week found guilty of the murder of Olivia Pratt-Korbel.
The ex-lover blew his alibi from the witness box by giving crucial evidence about his whereabouts along with details of how he tried to cover up the murder.
READ MORE: Locals where Olivia Pratt-Korbel was shot dead wear home-made bulletproof vests
The woman, who gave her testimony from behind a screen, said that Cashman brought her a “world of pain” and she has “ruined her life for this”.
“There’s no such thing as a grass when it involves a nine-year-old girl,” she said.
Cashman was also found guilty of the attempted murder of Joseph Nee, 36, and is due to be sentenced tomorrow for Olivia’s deadly murder.
(Image: PA)
Cashman fled the scene on the night of the murder to seek refuge at his ex-lover’s home as he “garden-hopped” through the streets to let himself into her house through the back door.
He entered the room, he woke her up by tapping her leg and said, “It’s Tommy, it’s Tommy, I didn’t know where else to go, I trust you.”
It is the morning after when she realised he had killed the innocent girl, Olivia.
The court heard that Cashman ordered her to “get him a pair of pants”, but she decided to call her boyfriend instead.
During the trial, the woman gave a piece of compelling evidence to the court as she overheard Cashman saying: “I’ve done Joey.”
(Image: PA)
The witness and the drug dealer had been “friends with benefits”, and she claimed him to be a good “listener” who made her feel “giddy”.
The duo had sex three times, where she admitted that the first occasion was amazing, but then mocked him for lasting about 56 seconds in bed the third time.
Earlier during the police inquiry, Cashman’s lover was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender — a moment when she said “my world come crumbling down”.
She said: “If he was any sort of man he would just f***ing own it. I can’t believe he’s making this family go through what they’re going through.”
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She admitted telling “little white lies” to protect her family, as she was petrified of speaking out or being blamed for taking part in one of Merseyside’s most notorious murders.
The woman told the jury: “I was woken up that night by a guy doing a dreadful thing and putting my life in danger. I was petrified to speak about Tommy.
“I’ve got to come home, he’s going to want to see me, what I have been speaking about. I was mortified I have been put in this situation.”
According to a report from the Times, the woman was believed to have had more death threats than any other police witness in Merseyside’s history.
She could face years in a witness protection programme, hidden away from friends and family.
(Image: PA)
Detective Superintendent Mark Baker of Merseyside Police said: “In my 30 years as a police officer, I’ve never seen such bravery.”
Another police source said that for the witness to give evidence against a “drug dealer and violent gangster” meant “everything” both to Olivia’s family and to the community of Merseyside and Merseyside Police force as an organisation.
“It was the moment when Liverpool’s community said ‘enough is enough’,” they said.
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