Man is suspected of assisting an offender as police continue searches at three properties in Liverpool
A 29-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the killing of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel after warrants were executed at three properties, Merseyside police have said.
The man is suspected of assisting an offender and has been taken into custody, where he will be questioned by detectives.
It came after police on Thursday executed warrants at three properties in the West Derby area of Liverpool. Searches at the properties are continuing.
Olivia was shot by a gunman who forced his way into her family home in the Dovecot area of Liverpool at about 10pm on 22 August.
The assailant was chasing a convicted burglar, Joseph Nee, who had burst into the house when Olivia’s mother, Cheryl Korbel, opened her front door to see what the commotion outside was.
Police renewed their appeal for anyone with information to come forward. People who might have CCTV, dashcam or smart doorbell footage can upload it on to a dedicated portal where it will go straight to the investigation team, detectives said.
Korbel and Olivia’s father, John Francis Pratt, released separate messages calling for more information.
“You know you’ve done wrong, so you need to own up, like I taught my kids. You do something wrong, you own up to it,” said Korbel in a video statement. “If anyone is hiding these guns, they need to speak up because they need to be off these streets. No one, no one at all should have to go through this.”
Four men arrested on Sunday, including one on suspicion of the murder of Olivia, were released on conditional bail on Wednesday.
Police have praised the public response as “phenomenal” but said more was needed. Assistant chief constable Chris Green said: “This is a detailed, complex investigation. Those who were responsible are not coming forward and saying: ‘Right, I was responsible … here you go.’ We need to go and uncover all of the evidence.”
Olivia’s funeral is due to take place at St Margaret Mary’s, the church associated with her school, in Dovecot on 15 September. The family have requested mourners “wear a splash of pink”.
