Olivia Pratt-Korbel: Tribute at Everton v Liverpool game

An image of Olivia Pratt-Korbel who was shot dead in her Liverpool home has been displayed on the big screen at Goodison Park at the Merseyside derby.

The nine-year-old was shot and her mother was injured after a gunman chased a man into her home in Dovecot on 22 August.

Neither men had links to her family.

A minute’s applause was also held nine minutes into the Everton v Liverpool game and fans sang Merseyside in tribute to the youngster.

An anti-knife and gun crime banner was unfurled in the Bullens Road stand at the Premier League game, which kicked off at 12:30 BST, stretching across Everton and Liverpool supporters.

As well as displaying Olivia’s image on the big screen, it also featured an appeal by Merseyside Police for people with information on the incident to come forward, as well as two other recent fatal shootings in the city.

Sam Rimmer, 22, was shot in Dingle on 16 August while Ashley Dale, 28, was found with gunshot wounds in the back garden of her Old Swan home in the early hours of 21 August.

The Everton Fans’ Forum urged both Blues and Reds “to come together” in unity and anyone with information to “tell the authorities”.

In a statement, it said: “Keeping quiet is not an option.”

It added: “Enough is enough.”

It comes after her family asked mourners to wear a “splash of pink” to her funeral.

The service will take place at St Margaret Mary’s in Dovecot on 15 September, according to a notice by Debbie Bennett Funeral Directors.

The notice posted on the funeral directors website said: “Olivia will be sadly missed by all her family and friends.

“Funeral mass at St Margaret Mary’s Church, Pilch Lane, Dovecot on Thursday 15th September at 11am, followed by a private burial.”

“Family requested everyone to wear a splash of pink,” it added.

More than £40,000 has been raised via a fundraising page for Olivia’s family.

She died after she was shot in her home when a gunman chased convicted burglar Joseph Nee into the property at about 22:00 BST.

A post-mortem examination found her medical cause of death was a gunshot wound to the chest.

During the opening of Olivia’s inquest on Tuesday, Liverpool Senior Coroner Andre Rebello said armed response officers found her with a gunshot wound to her chest.

He said a police officer had “scooped” up Olivia and ran with her to try to save her life, pressing his hand on her wound as she was taken to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in the back of a police car.

Olivia’s mother Cheryl was injured as she tried to shut the door, but the attacker fired more shots at the man he had pursued.

She is still receiving treatment for her injuries, police said.

CCTV footage of the gunman fleeing the scene was released by police on Thursday as the investigation continues into her death.

A 36-year-old man from Huyton and a 33-year-old from Dovecot were arrested on suspicion of murder and two counts of attempted murder in relation to Olivia’s death last week and have been released on bail.

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