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Defence: Evidence points to 'some other killer'
19 Mar
Summary
- Defence claims evidence suggests an unknown killer.
- Natalie McNally was 15 weeks pregnant when murdered.
- Trial hinges on circumstantial evidence, defence states.
The trial of Stephen McCullagh, accused of murdering Natalie McNally, has heard arguments that the evidence suggests an alternative perpetrator. McNally, 15 weeks pregnant, was killed in her Lurgan home on December 18, 2022. Her partner, McCullagh, denies the murder charge.
Defence barrister John Kearney KC told Belfast Crown Court that the prosecution's case is built on circumstantial evidence, which he argued contains significant gaps. He suggested that various details in the evidence point away from the defendant and towards an "other killer." Kearney stressed that if the jury harbours any reasonable doubt that someone else could be responsible, they must acquit.
The defence highlighted the lack of CCTV footage showing McCullagh leaving his Lisburn home on the night of the murder, calling it a "big problem" for the prosecution. They also discussed a former boyfriend of Ms. McNally, presenting him as a significant source of reasonable doubt.
Furthermore, the defence challenged the prosecution's claim that McCullagh provided a false alibi regarding a livestream gaming session, suggesting a possible financial motive for such a misrepresentation. Kearney concluded that the prosecution's case was "disintegrating" and lacked coherence, creating ample grounds for reasonable doubt.
