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Killer's Fake Livestream Alibi for Murder
13 Apr
Summary
- Boyfriend faked a six-hour YouTube livestream as an alibi for murder.
- He beat, strangled, and stabbed his pregnant girlfriend to death.
- Cybercrime unit exposed the pre-recorded footage, leading to his arrest.
In a shocking case of premeditated murder, Stephen McCullagh was convicted of killing his pregnant girlfriend, Natalie McNally, using a sophisticated alibi. On December 18, 2022, McCullagh pretended to host a six-hour YouTube gaming marathon. However, this livestream was pre-recorded, providing him with the time to travel to McNally's home in Lurgan, Northern Ireland. There, he brutally beat, strangled, and stabbed the 32-year-old content creator, who was 15 weeks pregnant.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland's cybercrime unit was instrumental in uncovering McCullagh's elaborate deception. He had attempted to erase the footage, but forensic analysis proved the 'livestream' was a fabrication. This crucial evidence led to his arrest and subsequent conviction for murder after a three-year wait for justice for McNally's family.
McCullagh's duplicity extended to trying to frame McNally's ex-boyfriend and publicly grieving with her devastated family. He was convicted on March 23, 2026, at Belfast Crown Court. The judge noted the mandatory life sentence for the crime, with a minimum tariff to be determined. The case highlights the devastating impact of male violence and the pursuit of justice for victims like Natalie McNally.
