In a dramatic turn of events, Rachel Fulstow, a 37-year-old woman, has denied being involved in the gruesome shooting and acid attack that left her Tinder date, Liam Smith, deceased in a Manchester hotel last November. The court heard that Fulstow claims she was innocent and first learned about the brutal attack when her boyfriend, Michael Hillier, arrived at her home, boasting about what he had done.
Prosecutor Jason Pitter KC questioned Fulstow’s alibi, pointing out several incriminating searches made on her phone in the months leading up to the attack. These searches included looking up information about Liam Smith’s company, his home address, and even the specs of the Shogun car, which was later found burnt out. Furthermore, Fulstow was found to have searched for terms such as “how long does it take a car to burn?” and “do speed cameras have ANPR.”
Despite these revelations, Fulstow maintained that the searches were simply made out of curiosity, insisting that she was not involved in the plot to harm Liam Smith. However, Pitter suggested that the searches were, in fact, made as part of the planning process, with Fulstow seeking to gain information to aid in the execution of the attack.
Rachel Fulstow
The court also heard that Fulstow and Hillier, who is a significant drug dealer, had become lovers after meeting on dating app Hinge. The prosecution claimed that Hillier had been led to believe that the one-night stand Fulstow had with Liam Smith in 2019 was non-consensual, which led to his motivation to attack the victim. However, Fulstow denied any involvement in the plan and claimed she was shocked when Hillier arrived at her home, boasting about what he had done.
As the trial continues, the jury will have to weigh the evidence and determine whether Fulstow is telling the truth or if she was indeed involved in the brutal attack that left Liam Smith dead. The prosecution’s case is built on the idea that Fulstow was an active participant in the planning and execution of the attack, and that her denials are simply a desperate attempt to cover her tracks.
