Liam Smith: Wigan gun and acid murder was act of revenge, court told

Judge Maurice Greene told the jury emotions may run high in the case but they must put that to one side

The "well orchestrated and executed" killing of a man in a gun and acid attack was an act of "revenge" over a "brief liaison", a court has been told.

The body of Liam Smith, 38, was found near his home in Shevington, Wigan, on the evening of 24 November 2022.

Michael Hillier, 39, of Ecclesall Road, Sheffield, and Rachel Fulstow, 37, of Andrew Drive, York, both deny murder.

Prosecutor Jason Pitter KC told Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court they "worked together" on the killing.

Opening his case, Mr Pitter said the attack on Mr Smith was "probably a misplaced, misguided and wholly disproportionate act of revenge".

He said the 38-year-old had had a "brief liaison" with Ms Fulstow, who was Mr Hillier's partner.

On the day of the attack, Mr Smith was "lured out and away from his home address" on Kilburn Drive by Mr Hillier, who had come "ready to do his business", he said.

'Blasted'

Mr Smith's friends and family were in tears in the public gallery as the jury was shown CCTV footage of the moments leading up to his death.

It showed a man wearing a high-vis jacket who then walked out of view, before Mr Smith was seen, a few minutes later, walking towards the same direction.

Moments after, a gunshot could be heard.

Mr Pitter said the man in the jacket was Mr Hillier, who "blasted" Mr Smith, "probably from close range, in the face with a shot from a gun".

He said the defendant then poured acid over Mr Smith's face and body, before "leaving him for dead in the street".

He added that Ms Fulstow had also played a "full role" in the attack and both defendants had "worked together" to plan and execute the killing.

Mr Smith's body was discovered on a patch of ground between houses on Kilburn Drive in Shevington, Wigan, on 24 November last year.

Earlier, Judge Maurice Greene had told the jury that emotions may run high in the case, but they must put that to one side and consider it only on the evidence heard in court.

Mr Hillier admitted manslaughter as the trial began, but denies murder.

Ms Fulstow denies both charges and a further count of perverting the course of justice between 21 January and 21 February 2023.

The trial, which is expected to last up to four weeks, continues.

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