A YouTuber has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 31 years for the murder of his pregnant girlfriend, who was 15 weeks along.
Stephen McCullagh, 36, was found guilty by a jury at Belfast Crown Court in March for the killing of Natalie McNally, 32.
The tragic incident occurred at Ms. McNally’s residence in Lurgan on December 18, 2022, where she sustained multiple stab wounds, strangulation, and blunt force trauma to her hand.
McCullagh attempted to fabricate an alibi by claiming he was live-streaming a video game on his channel at the time of the murder.
However, investigations revealed that the six-hour “live stream” had actually been recorded four days earlier and was broadcast as live during the murder.
Following the verdict, Declan McNally, Ms. McNally’s brother, addressed reporters, stating, “Violence against women and girls is a stain on our society, and we must do everything possible to eradicate it.”
YouTube subsequently removed McCullagh’s account after his conviction.
During sentencing, Judge Mr. Justice Kinney remarked that McCullagh had presented himself to Ms. McNally’s family as “devastated, distraught, and shocked,” even attending her wake on Christmas Day.
He emphasized that the fabricated live stream was a crucial part of McCullagh’s plan, which was meticulously designed to create a false alibi.
”You orchestrated this murder with chilling precision,” the judge stated.
”You attacked someone you claimed to love in a violent frenzy characterized by excessive brutality.
Despite the chaos, the act was premeditated and calculated, as shown by the extensive planning leading up to the crime and your subsequent actions.”
The judge further noted that the sentence “cannot possibly reflect the value of Natalie’s life or that of her unborn child.”
Outside the court after sentencing, Noel McNally, Ms. McNally’s father, expressed that his family has endured “unimaginable pain and grief” following the loss of their beloved daughter.
”Today, we do not celebrate the sentence given, as Bernadette, my three sons, and I are serving a life sentence since Natalie’s murder.
However, we hope it will deter and help combat violence against women and girls in this nation,” he added.
He also requested privacy for his family as they continue to mourn.
By Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong