Joseph Nee, a 37-year-old convicted drug dealer who was the intended target in a shooting that led to the death of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel in Liverpool in August 2022, has been fined £60 for possessing cannabis. The drugs were found in his underwear during a strip search at a police station on July 12. Liverpool Crown Court, where Nee appeared, dropped a case against him for assaulting a police officer, as he had already been sentenced for that incident.

Judge Louise Brandon, overseeing Nee’s case, admonished him to “keep [his] nose clean,” hinting at his prior record of drug offences. The court heard arguments from Nee’s legal representation, requesting leniency due to the minimal amount of drugs found. Nee’s involvement in the tragic incident that cost Olivia Pratt-Korbel her life was highlighted, underlining a history of violence targetted towards him.

Thomas Cashman, identified as the shooter in the incident that also resulted in Nee getting shot, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 42 years. He was found guilty of murder, the attempted murder of Nee, and other charges relating to the incident. Cashman’s conviction brings to a close a case that drew significant public attention due to the tragic loss of a young life and the circumstances that led to her death.