Stephen McCullagh, a YouTuber with approximately 37,000 subscribers, is on trial accused of murdering his pregnant girlfriend, Natalie McNally, at her home in Lurgan, Northern Ireland, on December 18, 2022. The case is being heard at Belfast Crown Court, where prosecutors allege the killing was planned, calculated and premeditated.
The Alleged Livestream Alibi
Prosecutors allege that on the night of the killing, McCullagh staged what appeared to be a six-hour live YouTube gaming stream of Grand Theft Auto V. During the broadcast, he reportedly told viewers he could not interact with them due to technical issues. However, cyber experts later determined the footage had been pre-recorded days earlier rather than streamed live. It is further alleged that McCullagh later acknowledged in a written statement to police that the session had been recorded in advance.
Prosecution’s Timeline
The prosecution claims that while the pre-recorded video played online, McCullagh traveled by bus from Dunmurry to Lurgan, fatally attacked McNally in her home, and then returned home by taxi. McNally, who was 15 weeks pregnant, suffered multiple stab wounds along with blunt force trauma and neck compression, either of which prosecutors say could have caused her death.
The Emergency Call
Jurors were played a recording of an emergency call McCullagh made the following evening. In the call, he can be heard sobbing and telling the operator that McNally was pregnant, cold, and that there was blood everywhere. The prosecution argues that the call was staged in an attempt to reinforce his alibi and avoid suspicion.
Current Status
McCullagh was initially ruled out as a suspect because of the apparent livestream alibi. After forensic analysis indicated the stream was not live, he was later charged with murder. He denies the allegation, and the trial is ongoing.
