A YouTuber who meticulously crafted a false alibi by broadcasting a pre-recorded video gaming livestream has been convicted of murdering his pregnant partner, in a case that exposed a calculated and violent deception.
Stephen McCullagh, 36, showed no emotion in the dock at Belfast Crown Court as a jury of six men and six women found him guilty of murdering 32-year-old Natalie McNally after just two hours of deliberation. The mandatory life sentence was confirmed by the trial judge, Mr Justice Kinney, with a hearing to set the minimum tariff scheduled for 15 May.
The ‘Live’ Alibi and its Digital Undoing
McCullagh, known online as ‘votesaxon07’, claimed he was at home in Lisburn drinking Guinness and Baileys and livestreaming himself playing Grand Theft Auto during the window in which Ms McNally was killed in her Lurgan home on the evening of 18 December 2022. He had advertised the six-hour “The Violent Night Christmas Live Gaming Stream” as a surprise event, starting at 6pm. Footage shown to the jury depicted him in a Santa hat, aggressively swearing at the game, telling viewers it was a live broadcast and that he would not be leaving his house.
His digital alibi was systematically dismantled by the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s cybercrime unit. A forensic examination of his devices provided extensive evidence that the entire broadcast had been pre-recorded in advance, on 14 and 15 December, and saved as a video file. Crucially, the investigation found no evidence of the live interaction or technical hurdles typical of a real stream. McCullagh had opened the broadcast by telling viewers he could not respond to live chat due to “technical issues” and would not use his phone, a narrative that perfectly masked the recording’s pre-prepared nature.
After his rearrest in January 2023, McCullagh admitted in a pre-prepared statement that the footage was pre-recorded, claiming he had been drunk and asleep on the night of the murder.
A Planned and Violent Attack
The prosecution successfully argued that McCullagh had instead travelled by bus from Lisburn to Lurgan, committed the murder, and returned home by taxi. They described the killing as a “planned, calculated, and premeditated” act.
Natalie McNally, who was 15 weeks pregnant with a child they had planned to name Dean, died from a ferocious attack involving stab wounds and blows to her head. Post-mortem examinations revealed she had also suffered a severe beating, facial fractures, and broken bones in her neck.
The court heard evidence that McCullagh had accessed Ms McNally’s phone and viewed messages she had exchanged with other men. The prosecution suggested a motive rooted in jealousy, painting a picture of a man who then went to extraordinary lengths to cover his tracks. CCTV and doorbell footage reportedly tracked a person of interest, identified as the defendant, travelling to the house disguised, possibly with a long, dark wig.
In a chilling postscript, the court heard that McCullagh returned to the scene the following night, making a 999 call to say he had found Ms McNally cold and noting she was pregnant. He also attended her wake on Christmas Day, where he was comforted by her unsuspecting family.
“Our Hearts Go Out to All Victims”
In emotional statements outside court, Natalie McNally’s family, who had filled the public gallery, thanked the public for support that had carried them through an “unimaginably difficult” ordeal. Her brother, Niall McNally, directly linked her death to a wider societal issue, stating: “As Natalie receives justice today, our hearts go out to all the victims of violence against women and girls. It is the shame of our society, and we must do everything possible to end it.”
Her brother Declan paid tribute to Natalie as “an inspirational person” and “the greatest joy we’ll ever have.” He added: “You would have been an amazing mother to baby Dean. We will love you forever and we hope you can now rest easy.” The family also praised their parents for possessing “the biggest strength” and holding everyone together.
The couple had met on the dating app Bumble on 7 August 2022, a relationship lasting 133 days. McCullagh had met Ms McNally’s family for the first time only in October. Mr Justice Kinney acknowledged the dignity shown by the McNally family throughout the five-week trial, which was built entirely on circumstantial evidence after the defendant denied the charge and chose not to give evidence.
The case, involving a YouTuber whose channel featured science fiction content, toy reviews, and a series called “The Fake Stream,” has generated widespread public concern in Northern Ireland, where such a calculated, non-gang-related violent crime is comparatively uncommon.
