Jury shown replica gun in murder trial of Wigan dad Liam Smith

Firearms expert Andre Horne demonstrated how to operate the Ekol Gediz Glock 17 replica handgun during the trial of Michael Hillier, 39, and his girlfriend Rachel Fulstow, 37, who are both accused of the murder of Shevington dad Liam Smith.

Smith’s death was allegedly prompted by a “one-night stand” between the victim and former nail technician Fulstow, the trial at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester has heard.

The jury of five men and seven women were told the gun used in the attack – which has never been recovered by police – was allegedly a blank-firing pistol bought by Hillier for £139.99 from a gun shop in Nottingham in October last year, a month before the killing.

The weapon had then been modified so it could fire a projectile, and was armed with an 8mm steel ball-bearing and lead shot before being used to shoot Mr Smith in the face.

Hillier has admitted the manslaughter of Mr Smith but denies murder.

Mr Smith, 37, was lured out of his home on Kilburn Drive, Shevington, in the early evening of November 24 last year and blasted at close range with the gun.

He then had corrosive liquid, probably sulphuric acid, poured on his face and body, burning away his flesh, jurors heard.

Earlier the court was told Mr Smith, who worked as an electrician, had a “brief liaison” with Fulstow at a hotel in York in 2019.

The next year she started dating Hillier, who was said to be unhappy about the liaison between Mr Smith and Fulstow and was “led to believe she had been raped”, Jason Pitter KC, prosecuting, told the jury.

Fulstow was initially treated as a witness by police until she was arrested in February this year.

She was held on suspicion of joint enterprise murder but told police she did not know what her boyfriend was planning.

The prosecution says she assisted in the organisation, preparation and execution of the attack on Mr Smith.

Both Fulstow, from Andrew Drive, York, and Hillier, from Ecclesall Road, Sheffield, deny murder.

Hillier has pleaded guilty to manslaughter while Fulstow has denied the same charge.

She also denies a single count of perverting the course of justice.

In a covert recording taken in prison after his arrest and played to the jury, Hillier was heard to say, “we both wanted him to suffer” but his intention was not to kill Mr Smith.

He added: “It was basically to maim him, disable him and then to pour the acid on his face to disfigure him so he was scarred for life, like she was scarred for life.

“We’ve planned and we’ve plotted and we’ve schemed, and she has been well involved like.

“We were meant to be a team.

“It was meant to be a category one GBH, it was never the intention that he would die.”

The trial was adjourned until Wednesday morning, when Fulstow is due to give evidence in her defence.