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A person accused of murdering a father-of-two who was shot and attacked with acid has been faraway from court docket after interrupting the decide’s summing up.
The jury within the trial of Michael Hillier and Rachel Fulstow, each accused of the homicide of Liam Smith, 38, in Wigan, Higher Manchester, retired to think about their verdicts shortly earlier than 1pm on Tuesday.
Minshull Road Crown Court docket in Manchester has heard Mr Smith, an electrician, went on a date with Fulstow, 37, in 2019 when she has claimed that they had “non-consensual intercourse” at a resort.
Hillier, 39, who has admitted manslaughter however denies homicide, claims they plotted collectively to assault Mr Smith after Fulstow, who he was in a relationship with, instructed him she had been raped.
Summing up the case on Tuesday morning, Choose Maurice Greene reminded the jury of Fulstow’s proof about intercourse with Mr Smith, which she mentioned she didn’t contemplate to be rape.
Talking from the dock, Hillier mentioned: “It’s not intercourse, it’s rape.
“What kind of message does that ship out? Intercourse is consensual, rape isn’t.”
He was faraway from the dock by safety officers.
Earlier than the jury was despatched out to think about its verdict, Louise Blackwell, defending Hillier, mentioned he apologised.
Choose Greene replied: “Feelings run excessive, as I’ve already talked about.”
Earlier, he instructed the 5 males and 5 ladies on the jury they did “not likely must resolve” what occurred when Mr Smith met Fulstow.
He mentioned: “As to what actually occurred on that evening we are going to in all probability by no means know and it in all probability doesn’t matter.”
The jury has heard Mr Smith was lured out of his house on Kilburn Drive, Shevington, on November 24 final yr by Hillier, who shot him within the face earlier than pouring acid over him.
Fulstow, of Andrew Drive, York has instructed the court docket she didn’t know her boyfriend was going to shoot Mr Smith.
She denies homicide and a cost of perverting the course of justice.
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