The intended target in the sickening murder of Olivia Pratt-Korbel will be released from prison next month – despite being branded a ‘professional criminal involved in organized crime’.
Joseph Nee, 36, was shot in the chest and chased around the Liverpool home of nine-year-old Olivia by hitman Thomas Cashman in August last year.
As Cashman fired towards Nee, the schoolgirl was shot in the chest, killing her, as she stood next to her mother Cheryl in the hallway of their home.
Cashman, 34, was convicted yesterday of the sickening murder that shocked and appalled the nation.
During his trial, the court was told about his target Nee’s long criminal history, his ties to the drug trade and organized crime, and how his family had their enemies.
Nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel, who was shot and killed at her home in Kingsheath Avenue, Liverpool, in August 2022
Joseph Nee (left), 36, was shot in the chest and chased around the home of nine-year-old Olivia, in Liverpool, by hitman Thomas Cashman (right) in August 2022.
Police investigating Olivia’s murder arrested Nee, who lived near Olivia’s home in the Dovecot area of Liverpool and he was recalled to prison for breaching the terms of his parole.
Nee was serving a 45-month sentence handed down to him in 2018 for burglary.
He was on parole when he was ambushed by Cashman who shot Olivia.
Career criminal Nee had spent time in prison throughout his life for a host of serious crimes including drug offences, burglary and robbery.
On December 2, the Parole Board assessed the recall and had the option of recommending his release again if it deemed he did not pose a danger to the public.
However, the panel decided that he would remain in prison for the remainder of his sentence after a review of the case.
Photographs of a topless Nee (far left) in HMP Kirkham, taken in 2019 and believed to have been shared on Instagram by a drug gang baron, showed him bragging about life behind bars and relaxing alongside other prisoners in hot weather
Nine-year-old Olivia was senselessly and ruthlessly murdered by a masked gunman in Liverpool in 2022
Nee chose not to appeal the decision and remained in prison where he believed he was safer than outside, MailOnline has learned.
A source said: ‘Nee knows he is a marked man on the outside so he has decided to accept the decision of the Parole Board. He’s safer in jail right now.
MailOnline has obtained Nee’s parole board notes which explain the timeline of his release and a timeline leading up to Olivia’s murder on August 22 last year.
The written summary of the parole board’s decision is a branding indictment of Nee’s criminal history and his claims that he was an “innocent” victim of a random shooting.
It says: “On November 20, 2020, Mr Nee was released to the point of automatic release from his sentence, as required by law.
“His license was revoked and he was recalled on August 23, 2022 and returned to custody on September 29, 2022.
“The recall decision follows an incident in which Mr Nee was chased by an armed man, who was trying to escape, forced his way into a private home that was unrelated to him.
“Mr. Nee was chased into the property, the shooter fired several shots, wounding Mr Nee and the female occupant of the property and, tragically, killing a nine-year-old girl.
Several police cars pictured on Kingsheath Avenue as officers continued to chase the shooter responsible for Olivia’s death in August 2022
“Mr. Nee said he was an innocent victim in the events leading up to his recall.”
The parole board summary indicates that Nee had most likely returned to his life of organized crime upon his early release on license.
He adds: ‘The panel was satisfied that it was likely that Mr Nee remained involved in licensed organized crime and was the intended target of a gang shooting.
“Given the circumstances, the panel felt that the decision to recall him to custody at this time was appropriate.”
The summary continues with a stark assessment of Nee’s deep involvement in drug gangs and organized crime in and around Merseyside.
He says: ‘The panel considered Mr Nee to be accurately described as a professional criminal involved in organized crime.
“His involvement in serious crime, including gang-related violence, is relevant to the risk in this case.
“The panel considered his impulsiveness, poor decision-making and difficulty coping with problems as other areas of risk.
Undated handout photo of Olivia Pratt-Korbel, who was shot dead at her Liverpool home by Thomas Cashman in 2022
Olivia Pratt-Korbel, 9, was the tragic victim of a suspected gang shooting in Liverpool after she was left for dead after being shot in her own home. Nee had been shot before running into his house
“There was no support for Mr. Nee’s release in the reports on file.
It concluded: “After reviewing the circumstances of his offense, the progress made in custody and under license, and the evidence presented in the record, the panel was not satisfied that Mr. Nee was fit for release.”
Nee received a fixed sentence of four years and nine months in prison following his convictions for burglary, theft, dangerous driving and driving while disqualified and without insurance.
He was part of a gang that led police on a 125mph chase across Merseyside and Cheshire.
Photographs of Nee topless in HMP Kirkham, taken in 2019 and believed to have been shared on Instagram by a drug gang lord, showed him bragging about life behind bars alongside fellow inmates.
Using the caption ‘costa del kirkham’ and ‘butlin behind bars’ prisoners are seen relaxing in the hot weather and posing for the camera.
And in 2009, Nee was jailed for six-and-a-half years for serving as a “trusted foot soldier” in a drug gang that helps push heroin and crack cocaine onto the streets of Liverpool.