YouTuber Found Guilty of Murdering Pregnant Partner After Elaborate Fake Livestream Alibi Unraveled
Stephen McCullagh, a 36-year-old YouTuber from Lisburn, has been convicted of murdering his pregnant girlfriend, Natalie McNally, in a case that exposed a chillingly calculated fake alibi involving a pre-recorded livestream. The jury at Belfast Crown Court delivered the verdict after a five-week trial, revealing how McCullagh attempted to cover up his brutal crime with a six-hour gaming broadcast named 'The Violent Night'.
A Horrific Attack and Deceptive Aftermath
Natalie McNally, 32, was 15 weeks pregnant when she was violently attacked at her home in Lurgan, County Armagh, on December 18, 2022. Prosecutor Charles MacCreanor KC described how she suffered three stab wounds to the neck, multiple traumatic blows to her head, and injuries consistent with being throttled. 'It left her face in a dog bowl, like an animal,' he told the court.
Just days after the murder, McCullagh took to social media to post about his 'suffering' and declared that 2022 was 'the worst year of my life.' On New Year's Eve, 13 days after killing Ms. McNally, he wrote on X: 'You will never know the levels of suffering, loss, and cruelty I was subjected to... But I'm still here.' In another post weeks later, he hypocritically urged followers to 'cherish the women in your lives.'
The Fake Livestream Alibi Exposed
McCullagh initially told police he had an alibi: a six-hour livestream of him drinking and playing Grand Theft Auto, which appeared to place him 20 miles away during the murder. He had advertised the stream, chillingly titled 'The Violent Night', two hours before it began.
- The footage showed McCullagh wearing a Santa hat, becoming increasingly intoxicated, and shouting at game characters.
- He told viewers he would not use his phone or respond to chat, claiming technical issues.
- However, the Police Service of Northern Ireland's cyber crime unit found evidence that the stream was pre-recorded on December 14 and saved as a video file before being streamed on YouTube as if live.
After his re-arrest in January, McCullagh admitted in a pre-prepared statement that he had pre-recorded the footage but denied killing Ms. McNally, blaming an ex-boyfriend instead.
Investigation Timeline and Chilling Details
The trial revealed a detailed timeline of events leading up to and following the murder:
- December 18, 2022: Ms. McNally was killed while McCullagh's pre-recorded stream aired. CCTV captured a man matching his description traveling to her home.
- December 19: McCullagh 'discovered' her body and called emergency services, tearfully reporting 'there's blood everywhere.' He was arrested but released after presenting his alibi.
- Post-release: McCullagh continued contact with Ms. McNally's family, even making a 39-minute recording of them speaking to gauge suspicion. He attended a memorial rally for her alongside 1,000 others.
- January 2023: Re-arrested after digital evidence exposed the livestream as fake. His YouTube channel, with 37,000 subscribers, was later removed for policy violations.
Throughout the trial, McCullagh maintained his innocence, but the jury of six men and six women reached a guilty verdict after just two hours of deliberation. He stood expressionless in the dock as the verdict was read, while Ms. McNally's family and friends cheered in the public gallery.
Sentencing and Aftermath
Stephen McCullagh now faces life in prison, with sentencing scheduled for May. The case has highlighted the dangers of digital deception in criminal investigations and the profound impact on victims' families. Natalie McNally's loved ones have endured not only her loss but also the manipulative actions of her killer in the aftermath.
This conviction serves as a stark reminder of how technology can be weaponized to conceal violent crimes, but also how diligent police work can uncover the truth behind even the most elaborate alibis.
