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A drug dealer and his former girlfriend have been jailed for murdering a father-of-two who was shot in the face and had acid poured on his body.

Michael Hillier tracked down Liam Smith and waited outside his home in Wigan for nearly 10 hours before the attack.

The 39-year-old plotted the assault over a 10-month period with his then girlfriend Rachel Fulstow, 37, who had claimed 38-year-old Mr Smith had raped her after a Tinder date.

Hillier, from Sheffield, has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 33 years in jail after being found unanimously guilty of murder following a six-week trial at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester.

Fulstow will also face life behind bars, with a minimum term of 30 years, plus 18 months for perverting the course of justice, after being found guilty of murder and one charge of perverting the course of justice, after lying to police.

The judge called this a “brutal and cold-blooded murder” and said the pair decided “to exact your own vengeance. The two of you decided to act as judge, jury and executioner”.

The judge added: “You showed no remorse whatsoever.”

Undated handout photo issued by Greater Manchester Police of Michael Hillier who along with Rachel Fulstow have been found guilty of the murder of Liam Smith at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester on Wednesday. Smith, 38, was shot in the face and then had acid poured over him outside his home in Wigan, Greater Manchester, on November 24 last year. Issue date: Wednesday August 23, 2023.
Image:
Michael Hillier

Undated handout photo issued by Greater Manchester Police of Rachel Fulstow who along with Michael Hillier have been found guilty of the murder of Liam Smith at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester on Wednesday. Smith, 38, was shot in the face and then had acid poured over him outside his home in Wigan, Greater Manchester, on November 24 last year. Issue date: Wednesday August 23, 2023.
Image:
Rachel Fulstow

Killers went on holiday after brutal murder

During the trial, the court heard Mr Smith was lured out of his house at about 6.40pm on 24 November 2022 by Hillier, who shot him in the face before pouring acid onto his face and body, followed by soda crystals.

The couple then went on a two-week holiday to Jamaica just days after the killing.

When the former lovers returned home, Hillier was arrested and Fulstow was initially treated as a witness.

Police later arrested her as a suspect after she was found to have lied during interviews.

Fulstow’s phone showed she had made internet searches into Mr Smith’s electrical company and Mitsubishi Shogun cars, like the one used by Hillier and later burned out after the murder.

On the morning of the killing, she also checked the weather in Wigan.

Mr Smith’s family shouted “yes” and “thank you so much” before sobbing and hugging as the jury found both defendants guilty of murder on Wednesday.

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Undated handout photo issued by Greater Manchester Police of Liam Smith. Michael Hillier and Rachel Fulstow have been found guilty of his murder at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester on Wednesday. Smith, 38, was shot in the face and then had acid poured over him outside his home in Wigan, Greater Manchester, on November 24 last year. Issue date: Wednesday August 23, 2023.
Image:
Victim Liam Smith

Former couple turned on each other during trial

Hillier, who was handcuffed in the dock, stared over at his former partner as the verdicts were returned.

The trial heard conflicting accounts from the former couple, who turned on each other with different versions of events.

Fulstow had met Mr Smith on a date in York in 2019, the court was told. She said they had “non-consensual sex” at a hotel in the city.

But Fulstow did not describe what happened as rape, she told the trial, and did not report it to the police.

The court heard she went for lunch with Mr Smith the day after the one-night stand.

She began dating Hillier two years later in 2021.

Fulstow said he could be verbally abusive and unpredictable and was not happy she had a one-night stand with Mr Smith.

Hillier, who told the court he was a drug dealer involved in producing and distributing cannabis on a large scale, said he and Fulstow had both planned the attack on Mr Smith.

He claimed Fulstow told him she had been “graphically raped” by Mr Smith.

Hillier, who had admitted manslaughter but denied murder, told the jury: “We decided jointly between the two of us that we would deal with the matter ourselves and seek justice ourselves and go down the vigilante route.”

Fulstow, an international travel and tourism management graduate from Leeds Met University, said she was “petrified” to go to the police about her boyfriend.

She told the court the first she knew of the attack on Mr Smith was when Hillier turned up at her house the following morning and told her.

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Lionesses praised after winning Women’s Euros – with bus parade confirmed this week

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Lionesses praised after winning Women's Euros - with bus parade confirmed this week

England fans across the country have heaped praise on the team after winning Euro 2025, with a bus parade celebration set for Tuesday.

Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses took home their second Euros trophy in consecutive tournaments after beating Spain 3-1 on penalties in the final.

Chloe Kelly scored the winning spot-kick following two huge saves from goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, after Alessia Russo scored an equaliser to send the game to a shootout.

As it happened: England beat Spain on penalties to retain title

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England fans celebrate across the UK

After England win, it was announced that an open-top bus parade will be held in London on Tuesday along The Mall, which will start at 12.10pm.

The celebrations will culminate in a stage ceremony at the Queen Victoria Memorial in front of Buckingham Palace at approximately 12.30pm

Fans can attend for free, and Sky News will broadcast it live.

‘You’ve made the nation proud’ – Starmer

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was among the millions congratulating the Lionesses, posting on social media to praise the champions

“What a team. What a game. What drama,” he said.

“You dug deep when it mattered most and you’ve made the nation proud. History makers.”

The roof almost came off the Manchester clubhouse where Ella Toone started her journey


Greg Milam

Greg Milam

Chief North of England correspondent

@GregMilamSky

Nowhere was the roar for the Lionesses louder than in the Astley and Tyldesley Miners Welfare club on the outskirts of Manchester.

The club where a five-year-old Ella Toone started her journey to England stardom, like so many places across the country, hosted nail-biting, table-thumping and, ultimately, deafening watch parties.

The roof almost came off the clubhouse when Chloe Kelly’s winning penalty went in.

Red bucket hats emblazoned with Toone’s now-famous ‘Buzzing My Head Off’ catchphrase were thrown in the air.

“Absolutely ecstatic,” said Lorraine Warwick-Ellis, who runs the pathway development for women and girls at the club.

“I was very nervous, very worried about penalties but we did it in the end.”

The success of the Lionesses has driven a huge boom in the popularity of women’s and girls football in recent years. She hopes this win will have a similar effect.

“I hope it cements the girls who are already here, keeps them engaged, and I hope it brings more girls down who want to be footballers and see that it’s open for everybody.”

It had been a pretty sombre watch for much of the game after Spain took the lead – but it erupted into life after Alessia Russo’s equaliser.

The shootout was the usual emotional rollercoaster but young fans seem to have greater faith in the Lionesses.

Among the jubilant teenagers celebrating in the clubhouse were two who have followed Toone’s path to academies at professional clubs.

“It’s unbelievable, they’re amazing, Chloe Kelly, I just don’t know what to say about her,” said Natasha Greenhouse. “We knew if it went to penalties that they’d do it.”

Tamsin Gallagher said: “They’ve done it the hard way all the way through the Euros but we all believed in them. Come on England.”

The party in Manchester and around the country and only just begun.

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‘I am so incredibly proud’

Prince William and Princess Charlotte, who were in attendance at St Jakob-Park in Basel, added on social media: “What a game!

“Lionesses, you are the champions of Europe and we couldn’t be prouder of the whole team. Enjoy this moment England.”

King hails Lionesses… and calls for World Cup

In a post on the official Royal Family account on X, King Charles also sent his “most heartfelt congratulations on winning the Euros 2025” to the Lionesses.

“For more years than I care to remember, England fans have sung that famous chant ‘football’s coming home’,” he said.

“As you return home with the trophy you won at Wembley three years ago, it is a source of great pride that, through sporting skill and awesome teamwork, the Lionesses have made those words ring true.

“For this, you have my whole family’s warmest appreciation and admiration. More than that, though, you have shown through your example over past weeks that there are no setbacks so tough that defeat cannot be transformed into victory, even as the final whistle looms.”

The monarch ended his statement by saying “the next task is to bring home the World Cup in 2027 if you possibly can!”

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Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy added: “What an absolutely extraordinary achievement by our Lionesses – once again they have made history and united the country with pride and joy.”

Reform UK’s Nigel Farage said “well done” to the team and “what an absolutely fantastic watch,” while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said: “What an achievement. What a team!”

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Man suffers cardiac arrest onboard boat trying to reach UK

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Man suffers cardiac arrest onboard boat trying to reach UK

A man has died after suffering cardiac arrest onboard a boat attempting to reach the UK.

The vessel turned back towards Equihen beach on the French coast yesterday morning.

A nurse tried to resuscitate the man but was unsuccessful.

Pic: PA
Image:
Pic: PA

French authorities have now launched an investigation into the circumstances.

A spokesperson for Doctors Without Borders, also known as MSF, has criticised authorities on both sides of the Channel.

Jacob Burns said: “Yet again we have a tragedy in the Channel, that is the consequence of the deadly, costly and ineffective security policies implemented by the UK and France.”

Pic: PA
Image:
Pic: PA

Later on Saturday, a lifeboat carried migrants who have made the voyage into the Port of Dover.

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Photographs showed them huddled under blankets and orange life jackets on board.

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Protesters clash over asylum hotels

Provisional statistics from the Home Office suggest almost 24,000 people have arrived on small boats in the UK so far this year.

Towns and cities across the UK have seen protests in recent days, primarily outside hotels believed to be housing asylum seekers.

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Women’s Euros final: The Lionesses face Spain tonight – and they’re seeking revenge

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Women's Euros final: The Lionesses face Spain tonight - and they're seeking revenge

Here the Lionesses are again. Another final. Another showdown with Spain.

All of a sudden, what was once so anticipated and longed for can start to seem expected rather than extraordinary.

What happened to the great underachievers of world football? They are now consistently among the final two going for glory.

England wins
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At Euro 2022, the Lionesses ended England’s 56-year wait for a major trophy by beating Germany 2-1 after extra time. Pic: Reuters

No one is taking that for granted.

Especially not Leah Williamson, with the chance to retain the European Championship trophy lifted three years ago at Wembley.

“The opportunity of tomorrow and what’s on offer is the best thing in football,” the England captain said. “I think we don’t necessarily carry the weight of it and how much it means to people, but we’re aware of it because it means the same to us.”

So often they were only watching other nations making finals.

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England’s first was the men winning the 1966 World Cup.

England v Spain: All you need to know

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Lionesses ‘know what win would mean to nation’

Then, with the rebirth of women’s football after bans and neglect, it was the Lionesses’ turn to make it to the finals – in 1984 and 2009.

And the Three Lions had to wait until 2021 to make it to a final, losing to Italy on penalties at Wembley.

It kickstarted an incredible run of five successive years of finals for England senior teams – with another men’s Euros final defeat in 2024.

The Lionesses have led the way, bringing football home by defeating Germany in the Euro 2022 final at Wembley.

They just missed out on going one better when reaching a first Women’s World Cup final a year later.

Soccer Football - FIFA Women's World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 - Final - Spain v England - Stadium Australia, Sydney, Australia - August 20, 2023 England manager Sarina Wiegman reacts REUTERS/Carl Recine
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England manager Sarina Wiegman reacts to defeat against Spain at the Women’s World Cup final in 2023. Pic: Reuters

Soccer Football - FIFA Women's World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 - Final - Spain v England - Stadium Australia, Sydney, Australia - August 20, 2023 England's Lauren James looks dejected after losing the world cup final REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli
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Lauren James looks dejected after their World Cup defeat, but is confirmed fit for Sunday’s revenge match against Spain. Pic: Reuters

Now, in Basel, comes the chance for revenge against Spain – even though no one in the England camp is saying that, publicly at least, in Switzerland.

Especially knowing how challenging a task it is coming up again against Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putella – the recent winners of football’s biggest individual honours.

England fans celebrate after England beat Italy at Women's Euro 2025. Pic: Reuters
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England fans celebrating after England beat Italy to reach the finals. Pic: Reuters

Soccer Football - FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 - Final - Fans in Manchester watch Spain v England - Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester, Britain - August 20, 2023 England fans watch the match Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
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Given England’s history against Spain, it could be a nerve-wracking time for England fans. File pic: Action Images/Reuters

But this is Spain’s first Euros final.

And there is some fear from the world champions at England’s grit and resolve to produce comebacks late in the quarter-finals and semi-finals – with 19-year-old Michelle Agyemang’s goals integral to the fightbacks.

England celebrate after defeating Italy in the Women's Euro 2025 semi-final. Pic: Reuters
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England celebrate their semi-final win against Italy to reach the finals. Pic: Reuters

Michelle Agyemang celebrates scoring her side's opening goal.
Pic: AP
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Michelle Agyemang has propelled England to the Euro 2025 final with two vital goals. Pic: AP

Spain captain Irene Paredes reflected yesterday on how the Lionesses can flip a result late on.

But she was also discussing how their World Cup win was tarnished by the on-pitch kiss that led to former Spanish federation president Luis Rubiales being convicted of a sexual assault on striker Jenni Hermoso.

It sparked a wider clamour in Spain for improved rights and respect for women.

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Spain’s players struggle for respect

“Since then [2023] we took big steps forward,” Paredes said.

“I think this idea is disappearing from society. I still believe we have to continue opening doors… we’re a reference for boys and girls in society, but we still have things to do.”

It is a reminder that while tonight is about collecting silverware, both England and Spain know that emerging as champions can drive further growth in women’s football back home.

Amid it all, they’ll try to savour just what reaching a final means and how rare they are – until recently for English and Spanish women.

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