The accused murderer was removed from the court after interrupting the judge

A man accused of murdering a father-of-two who was shot and attacked with acid has been removed from court after interrupting a judge’s summing up.

The jury in the trial of Michael Hillier and Rachel Fulstow, both accused of murdering 38-year-old Liam Smith in Wigan, Greater Manchester, retired to consider their verdicts shortly before 1pm on Tuesday.

Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester heard that Mr Smith, an electrician, had a date with Fulstow, 37, in 2019 when he claimed they had “non-consensual sex” at a hotel.

Hillier, 39, who admitted murder but denies murder, claims they conspired together to attack Mr Smith after Fulstow, with whom she was in a relationship, told her she had been raped.

Summing up the case on Tuesday morning, Judge Maurice Greene reminded the jury of Fulstow’s evidence about sex with Mr Smith, which she said she did not consider to be rape.

Speaking from the bench, Hillier said: “It’s not sex, it’s rape.

“What kind of message does that send? Sex is consensual, rape is not.”

He was removed from the dock by security officers.

Before the jury was sent to consider the verdict, Louise Blackwell, defending Hillier, said she apologised.

Judge Greene replied: “Emotions are high, as I have already mentioned.”

Earlier, he told the five men and five women on the jury they “don’t really have to decide” what happened when Mr Smith met Fulstow.

He said: “What really happened that night we will probably never know and it probably doesn’t matter.”

The jury heard Mr Smith was lured from his home in Kilburn Drive, Shevington, on November 24 last year by Hillier, who shot him in the face before pouring acid over him.

Fulstow, of Andrew Drive, York told the court she did not know her boyfriend was going to shoot Mr Smith.

She denies the crime and the charge of perverting the course of justice.

The jury was sent home at 4.15pm and will continue its deliberations at 10.30am on Wednesday.