A woman, Rachel Fulstow, has been denied leave to appeal against her conviction and life sentence for being involved in the murder of electrician Liam Smith in Shevington, Wigan. The crime took place in November 2022 when drug dealer Michael Hillier, Fulstow’s partner at the time, lured Smith out of his house, shot him in the face, and doused his body in sulphuric acid. Fulstow, despite denying the charges, was found guilty of murder and perverting the course of justice after a trial at Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court in August 2023. The court sentenced Fulstow, who hails from York, to life in prison with a minimum tariff of 30 years, while Hillier received a minimum of 33 years behind bars. Hillier claimed that the murder was in retaliation for Fulstow telling him that Smith had raped her during a Tinder date years before. Fulstow was found to have researched Smith’s personal details online and helped facilitate the attack.
According to the trial judge, Maurice Greene, Fulstow and Hillier took matters into their own hands by deciding to act as the “judge, jury, and executioner” in Smith’s case. Hillier executed the attack with Fulstow’s assistance, and Fulstow provided crucial information enabling Smith to be located before the murder. After the crime, Fulstow sent misleading messages to establish a false alibi for the couple before they jetted off on a holiday to Jamaica. Despite initially being interviewed as a witness, Fulstow misled the police repeatedly in an attempt to divert the investigation away from herself.
Fulstow’s appeal for leave to appeal against her conviction was heard at the Court of Appeal before Lord Justice Males, Mrs. Justice McGowan, and Mr. Justice Dexter Dias. The appeal was based on several grounds, including objections to trial rulings, failure to allow more time to consider Hillier’s defense statements, and issues with jury composition and new evidence. However, the Appeal Court judges concluded that the trial judge dealt with the matters thoroughly, and they rejected Fulstow’s application for leave to appeal against the conviction.
Despite Fulstow’s claims that she did not know Hillier intended to harm Smith, she described him as abusive and terrifying, leading to a fear of reprisal if she went to the authorities. Fulstow highlighted instances of violence and control in their relationship, revealing that she had been too scared of Hillier’s reactions to seek help. The court noted that Fulstow played a lesser but crucial role in the offense, with the crime originating from her actions. The Appeal Court judges affirmed the trial judge’s decision, determining that the minimum sentence of 30 years was appropriate and dismissed Fulstow’s application for leave to appeal the sentence.
The tragic case of Liam Smith’s murder by Rachel Fulstow and Michael Hillier serves as a reminder of the devastating consequences of unchecked revenge and the manipulation of vulnerable individuals. The court’s decision to uphold Fulstow’s conviction and sentence reflects the gravity of her involvement in the crime, despite her assertions of fear and coercion. The refusal of leave to appeal reiterates the courts’ commitment to justice and accountability in cases of heinous crimes such as this.
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