A couple agreed to ‘go down the vigilante route’ rather than inform police of an alleged rape after researching rape statistics online, a murder trial heard. Michael Hillier admits killing 38-year-old Liam Smith, who was shot dead before having acid poured over him outside his home in Wigan in November last year.
Hillier added: “It’s not surprising, given that only 1.6 per cent of rapes ever make it to court.” Hillier, 39, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter, but denies murder. “She was a lady far beyond my reach normally,” he said. “She is a very attractive woman, I was punching above my weight, I can’t lie.” Hillier said that Ms Fulstow told him she ‘thought she was going to die’ during the alleged rape. He said they had a conversation about reporting the allegation to the police but she was reluctant.
“She was completely all for the vigilante route,” Hillier alleged. “When she was wanting to go down the vigilante route, that’s when I had to get all of the step by step details, so I could justify the attack.”