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A woman accused of helping to plot the murder of a former flame has denied having any role in an electrician's death, a court has heard.
Liam Smith, 38, was shot dead outside his home in Wigan in November last year before having acid thrown over him, and Rachel Fulstow, 37, is jointly charged with his murder.
She claimed to be "petrified" of her co-defendant, 39-year-old Michael Hillier of Sheffield, who she had been in a relationship with at the time of the killing, the trial at Minshull Street Crown Court heard on Thursday afternoon.
In a peculiar turn of events Hillier interrupted Fulstow and said "ha" in response to her answer to a question.
“Mike turned up at my house,” she alleged, saying that's how she found out about Smith's death. “Ha!” Hillier was heard to say from the dock, M.E.N reported.
Jurors heard Ms Fulstow and Mr Smith met up for a date in York in 2019, after meeting on the online dating app Tinder.
They have heard claims that Ms Fulstow was "raped" by Mr Smith on that occasion. But she told the jury she did not consider the incident as "rape", and that years later Hillier told her "I’m sorry to tell you this Rachel, but you’ve been raped".
She said of the incident with Mr Smith: “It was non-consensual, but that was not the word I would have used, and never have used. He [Mr Smith] apologised and we spoke about it. I accepted that and we parted on good terms.”
Ms Fulstow said the date was the only time she ever met Mr Smith and she went on to begin a relationship with Hillier, who she met on Hinge, another dating app.
Ms Fulstow will continue giving evidence tomorrow, August 5.
Fulstow, from York, denies murder, manslaughter; and perverting the course of justice.
If you or somebody you know has been affected by this story, contact Victim Support for free, confidential advice on 08 08 16 89 111 or visit their website, www.victimsupport.org.uk.
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