It was a brutal plot that resulted in the horrendous death of a dearly loved father, Liam Smith. 

The 38-year-old electrician was shot dead and doused in acid yards from his home in Wigan in November last year.

The murder had been planned for 10 months.

Couple Michael Hillier and Rachel Fulstow were once united on their plan to murder Smith as part of what they saw as “vigilante justice” - but the plotting pair soon turned on each other, placing the blame on another in court.

In this episode of Testimony, our true crime podcast, Andrew Bardsley, who reported on the trial, explains the plot behind Smith’s murder, the day of the killing, and how it played out in court.

The Manchester Evening News court reporter tells the podcast how Hillier and Fulstow were branded “judge, jury and executioner” during the trial.

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Testimony is a Laudable production for the Manchester Evening News. It was presented and produced by Daniel J. McLaughlin, featuring Andrew Bardsley.

You can listen to previous episodes of our podcast on all the major platforms, including Spotify, Apple, Google, and more. And you can read more about this case on the MEN’s website: manchestereveningnews.co.uk.

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