YouTuber Accused of Murdering Girlfriend While Faking Grand Theft Auto Livestream
Jurors at Belfast Crown Court have heard disturbing allegations that a YouTuber staged a fake gaming livestream to create an alibi while he murdered his pregnant girlfriend. Stephen McCullagh, 36, from Lisburn, is accused of killing Natalie McNally, 32, who was 15 weeks pregnant with their son at the time of her death in December 2022.
Pre-Recorded Broadcast as False Alibi
Prosecutors allege McCullagh carefully planned the murder, recording a six-hour gaming session four days before the killing and broadcasting it as a live event on December 18, 2022. While the footage appeared to show him drinking and playing Grand Theft Auto and Robot Wars at his Co Antrim home, police believe he was actually traveling to Ms McNally's property in Lurgan, Co Armagh, where he carried out the attack.
Digital forensic analyst Detective Constable Matthews presented evidence showing the broadcast had been recorded on December 14 and saved as a video file. The footage was streamed on McCullagh's YouTube account Votesaxon07 on December 18, with software analysis revealing no user activity between 6pm and just after midnight on December 19.
'Activity relating to video recording was taking place on the 14th, the creation of the pre-recorded video file was completed on the 15th, in the early hours,' DC Matthews told the court. 'There was the creation of a social media advert between the 14th and 17th and a live stream of a pre-recorded video file was carried out between the 18th and 19th, and finally the deletion of the said file in the early hours of the 19th, 2022.'
Violent Attack on Pregnant Victim
The court heard Ms McNally suffered a prolonged assault that included stab wounds to the neck, strangulation, and heavy blows to the head. Prosecutors described the murder as 'planned, calculated and premeditated, one which he (McCullagh) hoped to get away with.'
McCullagh, who has denied murder, appeared in court wearing a grey T-shirt and jeans, sitting between two prison staff in the dock. Family and friends of Ms McNally watched from the public gallery as more than an hour of the supposed livestream footage was shown to the court.
Livestream Details Revealed in Court
The broadcast, billed as The Violent Night Christmas Live Gaming Stream, showed McCullagh wearing a Santa hat and greeting viewers. He spoke about the challenges of broadcasting live and warned he didn't know how long the stream would last. Blaming technical issues, he said he wouldn't be able to respond to the live chat and told viewers to 'chat amongst themselves.'
During the stream, McCullagh poured himself Guinness and later Baileys, joking about drinking and driving before adding: 'In the game by the way, I'm not leaving the house tonight.' He claimed he hadn't had a drink in months before taking a large gulp and saying: 'I could drink that stuff like it's water.'
In one violent sequence, he repeatedly screamed: 'die, why won't you die' at a character on screen. At another point he described himself as 'pissed out of his tits' and added: 'I realised I'm a very angry drunk,' before insisting: 'In real life, I'm an absolute sweetheart. I don't have too many loved ones in my life, but the ones I love, I love with all my heart.'
WhatsApp Messages Show Changing Relationship
Barrister Bobbie-Leigh Herdman, prosecuting, read agreed facts to the court including WhatsApp messages exchanged between the couple in the days leading up to Ms McNally's death. On December 14, messages were affectionate as they discussed work, Christmas decorations, and Ms McNally's pregnancy and upcoming maternity leave.
On December 18, Ms McNally confirmed she had arrived home safely. McCullagh teased her about whether she would make it to her parents' house in time to watch the 2022 World Cup final between Argentina and France. At 5.57pm that evening, he messaged her saying he was 'off to stream the night away, wish me luck,' to which she replied: 'Good luck, I might have a peek at your livestream later.'
After midnight and throughout December 19, McCullagh sent a series of messages to Ms McNally that went unanswered. In one, he wrote: 'I'm usually a man of my word but I thought a few drinks would be ok seeing as it's Christmas, I realise I should have run this by you first, and me saying one thing and then doing another has clearly upset you and for that I apologise sincerely.' He added: 'I love you and I never want to do anything to upset or hurt you.'
The court heard he also contacted a friend, expressing concern that Ms McNally was not responding to his messages. Prosecutors allege that while McCullagh was sending these messages, he had already killed his girlfriend and was attempting to create a false narrative about their relationship.
Alleged Movements on Night of Murder
According to the prosecution case, McCullagh disguised himself and took a bus to Lurgan before walking to Ms McNally's house where he killed her. They say he later got a taxi home before returning to Ms McNally's house on the night of December 19, when he made a 999 call.
The video file from the fake livestream was deleted in the early hours of December 19 and subsequently removed from the computer's recycle bin, according to digital evidence presented to the court. McCullagh's defense maintains his innocence, with the trial continuing as more evidence is presented.
