A court has heard how a dad from Wigan was killed after being shot and burned with acid by a man in an act of revenge following a “one-night stand” late last year.
The body of Liam Smith, a 38-year-old father of two, was found near his home in Shevington, Wigan on the evening of 24 November 2022 and following a hearing in Manchester on Tuesday, 12 July 2023, it is claimed he was a victim of a “well orchestrated and executed” murder following a “brief liaison”.
Michael Hillier, 39 and Rachel Fulstow, 37, are both accused of “working together” to carry out the killing after Smith was said to have had a one-night stand with Ms Fulstow in a York hotel back in 2019.
While both deny murder charges and have pleaded guilty, Minshull Crown Court was told how the local electrician was the victim of what was “probably a misplaced, misguided and wholly disproportionate act of revenge” as a result of the adulterous act.
Hillier has admitted to manslaughter as the trial began but denies outright murder. Nevertheless, lead prosecutor Jason Pitter KC says Smith was “drawn out of his house and blasted, probably at close range, in the face with a shot from a gun” which proved to be fatal.
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“However the killer, dressed in a high visibility jacket with a head torch [as per CCTV], did not stop there”, said Pitter, going on to detail how the man believed to be Hillier “proceeded to pour acid [thought to be sulphuric] onto the face and body of Liam Smith, followed by soda crystals”.
Pitter said that Hillier seemed to “believe that [Fulstow] had been raped” after Fulstow had said she believed that she did not give consent to have sex on the night in the hotel room she had booked.
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Ms Fulstow also denies both charges and a further count of perverting the course of justice between 21 January and 21 February 2023. The trial is expected to go on for at least four weeks.
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Man City star Jack Grealish handed hefty fine for speeding in 30mph zone
Emily Sergeant
Manchester City star Jack Grealish has been fined for speeding in 30mph zone, it has been revealed.
During a hearing at Worcester Magistrates’ Court yesterday (8 May), where the Manchester City and England midfielder pleaded guilty, the court was told that Grealish was caught speeding by a mobile speed camera on Station Road, in the Wythall area of Worcestershire, while driving a Range Rover Sport on the morning of 17 July 2023.
The 28-year-old – who was said to have had a full, clean driving licence at the time of the speeding offence – was caught driving at 44mph in a 30mph zone.
After pleading guilty through his barrister at the hearing, of which he did not attend, the Birmingham-born footballer has been fined £666 for speeding, ordered to pay £110 in court costs, and a victim surcharge of £266 – which leaves him with a total bill of £1,042.
He was also handed five penalty points for the speeding offence.
A charge of failing to give information to the police relating to the identification of the driver, however, was withdrawn.
Grealish’s barrister, John Dye, explained that the sports star “means no discourtesy by not attending” the hearing yesterday, according to Sky News and BBC News reports, and that he was “instructed to enter a guilty plea in relation to speeding” on Grealish’s behalf.
Entire tram line suspended due to overhead line damage at Old Trafford
Daisy Jackson
Metrolink trams along the Altrincham line have been suspended due to damage to an overhead line near Old Trafford.
The damage, caused by a third party, has caused significant disruption for commuters across the Greater Manchester region this afternoon.
No Metrolink tram services are operating between Altrincham and Piccadilly, in either direction.
Large queues are already forming for buses at Piccadilly Gardens as people attempt to get home.
Engineers have arrived on site to try and fix the issue, but ‘significant disruption’ is expected to continue into the evening.
TfGM and Metrolink have also deployed staff to assist people with their journeys at all stops in the city centre as well as at Old Trafford, Trafford Bar, and Cornbrook.
Trams between Bury and Deansgate-Castlefield are unaffected.
Ticket acceptance is in place on the 245, 255, 256, 263, 281 and 285 bus services and on Northern Rail services between Altrincham and the city centre. Simply show the driver your Metrolink ticket or pass when boarding.
You can plan the rest of your journey online using the TfGM journey planner here.