A YouTuber who fabricated a live-streamed gaming session as an alibi has been found guilty of murdering his pregnant partner. Stephen McCullagh, 36, was convicted by a jury at Belfast Crown Court for the killing of Natalie McNally, 32, who was 15 weeks pregnant when she was attacked at her home in Lurgan, County Armagh, in December 2022.
The court heard that McCullagh, known online as votesaxon07, had livestreamed a six-hour video titled "The Violent Night Christmas Live Gaming Stream" on the evening of the murder. However, the Police Service of Northern Ireland's cybercrime unit proved the footage was pre-recorded on 14 December and saved as a video file. McCullagh later admitted to police that he had pre-recorded the stream and had been asleep for most of the evening, but the prosecution argued he had travelled to Lurgan, killed McNally, and returned home by taxi.
McNally died from stab wounds and blows to the head between 8.50pm and 9.30pm on 18 December. The trial also heard that McCullagh had accessed McNally's phone and viewed messages she exchanged with other men. The couple had met in August 2022, and she became pregnant with his child by November.
Following the verdict, McCullagh showed no emotion as he was told by Mr Justice Kinney that murder carries a mandatory life sentence. A tariff hearing to determine the minimum term will be held in May. McNally's family, who filled the public gallery, cheered after the verdict. Her brother Niall McNally expressed hope that all victims of violence against women and girls receive justice, while another brother, Declan, paid tribute to McNally as an inspirational person who would have been an amazing mother to her unborn son, Dean.
