A YouTuber accused of murdering his pregnant girlfriend allegedly pre-recorded a video game livestream to create a false alibi for the night of the killing, a police digital forensic analyst has testified in court.
Pre-Recorded Livestream Details Revealed
Stephen McCullagh, 36, appeared to be broadcasting himself playing computer games live from his Co Antrim home on December 18, 2022. However, police believe he actually recorded the footage four days earlier, on December 14, and streamed it as live while traveling to kill Natalie McNally at her Lurgan, Co Armagh home.
Detective Constable Matthews, a digital forensic analyst, told Belfast Crown Court that his examination of McCullagh's computer "provided extensive evidence indicating that the broadcast was pre-recorded and later streamed as a live event."
Timeline of Digital Evidence
DC Matthews outlined the following timeline based on his forensic analysis:
- The six-hour broadcast was recorded on December 14 and saved as a video file
- Creation of the pre-recorded video file was completed in the early hours of December 15
- A social media advert was created between December 14 and 17
- The pre-recorded video was streamed as live on McCullagh's YouTube account Votesaxon07 between December 18 and 19
- The video file was deleted in the early hours of December 19 and removed from the computer's recycle bin
The software analysis showed no signs of user activity on McCullagh's computer between 6pm on December 18 and just after midnight on December 19, despite the apparent livestream occurring during this period.
Prosecution's Murder Allegations
The prosecution contends that McCullagh used the pre-recorded livestream as cover while he disguised himself, took a bus to Lurgan, and walked to Ms McNally's house where he killed her. They allege he later returned home by taxi before going back to Ms McNally's house on the night of December 19, when he made a 999 call.
Earlier in the trial, the court heard that Ms McNally, 32, who was 15 weeks pregnant with their son, suffered a prolonged assault including stab wounds to the neck, strangulation, and heavy blows to the head.
The prosecution has described the murder as "planned, calculated and premeditated, one which he (McCullagh) hoped to get away with."
Court Proceedings and Evidence
On Thursday, the fourth day of the trial before Mr Justice Patrick Kinney, McCullagh wore a grey T-shirt and jeans as he sat between two prison staff in the dock. Ms McNally's family and friends watched from the public gallery behind him.
A jury of six men and six women has been sworn in for the trial, which is expected to last around five weeks.
On Wednesday, the court viewed more than an hour of footage from the supposed livestream showing McCullagh playing Grand Theft Auto and Robot Wars while drinking Guinness and Baileys and making references to broadcasting live.
McCullagh, of Woodland Gardens in Lisburn, has denied murdering his girlfriend. The trial continues with further evidence expected in the coming weeks.
