By Westferry Times News Desk
23 March 2026
A content creator who murdered his pregnant girlfriend attempted to evade justice by staging a fake YouTube livestream as an alibi, a court has heard.
Stephen McCullagh killed Natalie McNally, who was 15 weeks pregnant, at her home in Lurgan, Northern Ireland, in December 2022, before constructing an elaborate plan to conceal his crime.
Elaborate Alibi Uncovered
McCullagh, 36, claimed he had been livestreaming video games on YouTube at the time of the हत्या. However, investigators later discovered the six-hour broadcast had been pre-recorded days earlier.
The stream, titled Violent Night, showed him playing video games and speaking to viewers, while claiming he was unable to respond to comments due to technical issues.
Digital forensic evidence revealed the footage had been recorded in advance and uploaded to create the illusion he was at home during the killing.
The Night of the Murder
On the evening of 18 December 2022, McCullagh travelled from Lisburn to Lurgan using public transport, disguising himself with dark clothing and facial covering.
Prosecutors said he arrived at Ms McNally’s home and carried out a brutal attack, during which she was stabbed, strangled, and struck multiple times.
He later returned home, stopped the stream, and deleted the original file in an attempt to destroy evidence.
Attempts to Mislead Investigators
Following the murder, McCullagh called emergency services, pretending to discover the scene and attempting CPR. He initially blamed a former partner of Ms McNally.
He also sent messages from his phone to reinforce his alibi and even attended vigils and memorials, posing as a grieving partner.
In a further attempt to manipulate the situation, he secretly recorded conversations within the victim’s family home.
Trial Reveals Evidence
A jury was shown CCTV footage tracking McCullagh’s movements on the night, as well as forensic analysis disproving his alibi.
Despite denying the charges and not giving evidence in court, he was ultimately found guilty following a five-week trial.
Motive Remains Unclear
While no definitive motive was established, the court heard evidence suggesting jealousy may have played a role, as Ms McNally had been communicating with other men prior to her death.
Prosecutors described the हत्या as a calculated and premeditated act, rather than a spontaneous crime.
Conclusion
The case highlighted how digital tools can be manipulated in attempts to evade justice, but also how forensic analysis can expose even the most elaborate deceptions.
McCullagh’s योजना ultimately failed, with investigators dismantling what prosecutors described as a carefully constructed “house of cards.”
