A former underworld figure from Liverpool has revealed that gangland bosses are “not happy” about the fatal shooting of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel.
Olivia died when a gunman carrying two firearms forced his way into her family’s home at around 10pm on August 22 while he was chasing convicted criminal Joseph Nee.
As Nee forced his way inside in a desperate bid to escape, the gunman fired a single shot at him using a .38 calibre revolver. The bullet wounded Olivia’s mum, Cheryl, and then struck the schoolgirl, killing her.
So far ten suspects have been arrested in connection with the schoolgirl's murder, reports the Liverpool Echo. No-one has as yet been charged by Merseyside Police.
John Burton, from Liverpool, who was sentenced to nine-and-a-half-years in 2012 after masterminding a £1million conspiracy that supplied cannabis, cocaine and amphetamine, appeared on Sky News' Beth Rigby Interviews and spoke about the murder.
He said he knows a lot of people in criminal world 'aren't happy' after Olivia's death.
John said: "I speak to a lot of people about the ripple effects and think before you do. When you go and do something and you don't think about doing it, then these are the ripple effects that happen along the way.
"Unfortunately there was a young girl who was killed and it's not on. That poor girl was behind a door but that guy ran into her house, he had no right to run in her house.
"Her mum got shot through the hand and the same bullet went and killed Olivia. It's awful, it's really bad and I know a lot of people in the criminal world are not even happy about it happening."
When the Sky News presenter asked why the killer hasn't been "handed in" by criminal organisations, John said he didn't know why either.
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He said: "I don't understand it myself, but, it's who it was and how it was done.
"The police must have evidence and stuff because they're arresting people for assisting an offender, so they must have names.
"The biggest gang in this country are the police and I'm pretty sure they will catch the killer, 100%, because they are putting everything into it. It won't be long until the killer is found."
Beth went on to ask if John believes the person responsible for Olivia's murder is being protected, and he said "I couldn't tell you".
