Manchester, August 24: A former couple has been found guilty of the brutal murder of a father-of-two in Wigan town of Manchester, UK. Liam Smith, 38, was shot in the face and had acid poured over his body on November 24, 2022. Rachel Fulstow, 37, and Michael Hillier, 39, plotted the attack over a 10-month period. Fulstow, who met Smith on the dating app Tinder, alleged that he had raped her during their date in 2019.

However, she did not describe it as rape at the time. Fulstow began dating Hillier in 2021, and both of them planned the attack together as an act of vigilante justice against Smith. According to multiple reports, Hillier, a drug dealer, tracked down Smith and waited outside his home for nearly 10 hours before carrying out the attack. Smith was shot and then had acid and soda crystals poured on him. The couple then went on holiday to Jamaica shortly after the murder. Both Fulstow and Hillier were found guilty of murder. UK Shocker: Woman Out on Walk With Dog Trampled to Death by Herd of Cows in Lancashire.

Hillier was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 33 years, while Fulstow received a minimum term of 30 years. Fulstow was also found guilty of perverting the course of justice. During the trial, the court heard conflicting accounts from the former couple, with each blaming the other for planning and executing the attack. The judge described the murder as "a brutal and cold-blooded" act and accused the couple of acting as "judge, jury, and executioner." UK Shocker: Man Kept Pensioner’s Body in Freezer For Two Years And ‘Used His Bank Account To Go Shopping and Withdraw Cash’.

Smith's family reacted with relief as the verdicts were announced. They shouted "yes" and "thank you so much" in response to the guilty verdicts. The trial also revealed chilling details about the planning and execution of the murder, as well as the subsequent attempts by the couple to cover their tracks. The judge highlighted the severity of their actions, noting that they showed no remorse after the murder and even went on vacation in the aftermath.

The case has shed light on the dangers of online dating and the potential for misunderstandings and allegations that can escalate to tragic outcomes. The case also demonstrated the challenges faced by law enforcement in solving cases with no clear motive or evidence. CCTV footage and other evidence were crucial in unravelling the truth behind the murder. The victim's family expressed their grief and sorrow, with Smith's mother sharing her devastation and the void left by his tragic death.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 24, 2023 07:48 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).