Man and woman jailed for life after murdering Wigan dad in acid and gun plot
Michael Hillier and Rachel Fulstow were found guilty of murdering Liam Smith by a jury yesterday
Last updated 24th Aug 2023
A man and woman have been jailed for life with a total minimum term of 63 years after plotting to shoot dead a man in Shevington before covering him with acid.
Liam Smith, 38, was found at the bottom of his driveway on Kilburn Drive, Shevington in the early evening of November 24 last year.
The trial heard he was left in the street outside his house with the chemicals still "fizzing" on his body when he was found shortly after the attack.
Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester has heard Mr Smith, an electrician, went on a date with Fulstow, 37, in 2019 when she has claimed they had "non-consensual sex" at a hotel.
39-year-old Hillier, of Ecclesall Road, Sheffield had admitted manslaughter but denied murder, claims they plotted together to attack Mr Smith after Fulstow, who he was in a relationship with, claimed she had been raped.
The jury heard Mr Smith was lured out of his home by Hillier, who shot him in the face before pouring acid over him.
Fulstow, of Andrew Drive, York had told the court she did not know her boyfriend was going to shoot Mr Smith but a jury also found her guilty of murder and perverting the course of justice.
Hillier was jailed for life with a minimum term of 33 years whist Fulstow will stay behind bars for a minimum of 30 years.
"Kind hearted, funny and devoted"
In a statement read in court on her behalf, Liam's mother said her world "completely turned upside down" when she got the phone call from police informing her they were "90 per cent sure" the body found was her son.
She said she was in "total shock and disbelief" and it "was the worst possible moment of my life."
"His body was held and only released the week of Christmas. On Christmas Eve we had to arrange Liam's funeral including picking flowers for his coffin."
"We are completely broken by this senseless and fatal act. Liam was a devoted father who worked hard to give his boys the best possible future
"He was kind, and accepting of everyone."
Detective Chief Inspector Gina Brennand of GMP’s Major Incident Team said: “Our investigation team has worked tirelessly over the past 9 months to find answers for Liam’s family and hopefully the decisions in court today will give them some form of closure.
“This case has shown a number of complexities throughout, with Liam’s name being tainted in the process, and him not being here to defend himself against accusations that have been really difficult for the family to hear in court.
“I would like to thank our partners in the Crown Prosecution Service and Prosecution Counsel who have helped secure this outcome.
“Our thoughts, as always, remain with Liam’s family through this devastating time.”