Crimestoppers founder and chairman Lord Ashcroft made the donation towards the reward to hunt down the nine-year-old’s killer. It will be offered through the charity for anyone with vital information that would lead to the conviction of those responsible for the schoolgirl’s death. This follows an extensive land search carried out by Merseyside Police at West Derby Golf Club in the hope of finding the weapon used in the incident. Olivia was fatally shot inside her home in Dovecot, Liverpool, on Monday August 22. Her mother, Cheryl Korbel, 46, was wounded in the wrist by the same bullet that killed her daughter, who was standing behind her when the gunman tried to force his way into their home. The gunman was chasing convicted burglar Joseph Nee onto their property, firing two shots intended for the burglar at around 10pm.
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Lord Ashcroft tweeted: “We must catch the cowards responsible for the death of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel. “I’m offering £50,000 for information, given through @CrimestoppersUK, leading to their imprisonment.” Merseyside Police have arrested nine men as part of their investigation into her death, but all have since been released on bail. Speaking on Monday, Detective Chief Constable Mark Kamin said: “We have made nine arrests and are building a body of evidence, but we still need more information and we need to find the weapons. “I would like to appeal to anyone with information that could assist us in our investigation to come forward. “This offender and those who protect him are a blight on the community and the impact they have on decent people in the community is toxic.” Olivia’s funeral is due to take place at St Margaret Mary’s Church in Knotty Ash, Liverpool on Thursday. Anyone with information is asked to DM @MerPolCC on Twitter or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting log 1083 of August 22.
