A YouTuber who faked a livestream as an alibi has been sentenced to 31 years in prison for the murder of his pregnant partner, Natalie McNally. Stephen McCullagh, 36, was convicted of the 'cold-blooded and calculated' killing at her home in Lurgan, County Armagh, on 18 December 2022.
Mr Justice Kinney described the attack as 'frenzied' and 'excessive', noting that McCullagh had planned the murder in 'remorseless detail'. While the attack took place, a prerecorded video of McCullagh playing Grand Theft Auto ran on his YouTube channel, giving the impression he was at his own home 17 miles away.
Prosecutor Catherine Kierans called the alibi an 'elaborate charade' and said she had never seen a domestic murder with such premeditation. After the murder, McCullagh attended McNally's wake, appearing grief-stricken, and was allowed time alone with her coffin. He also left a recording device at the family home to spy on them.
The judge said McCullagh intended to kill both McNally and their unborn child, and that he had placed her face in a dog bowl after the attack to humiliate her. McCullagh showed no emotion as he was sentenced at Belfast Crown Court.
McNally's father, Noel, said the family is serving a life sentence since her murder, but hoped the sentence would deter violence against women. McCullagh was convicted in March after a five-week trial.
