YouTuber Sentenced to 31 Years for Murdering Pregnant Girlfriend and Using Fake Livestream as Alibi
A YouTuber from Northern Ireland has been ordered to serve a minimum of 31 years in prison after being convicted of murdering his pregnant girlfriend and attempting to hide his involvement through a carefully planned fake livestream.
Stephen McCullagh was sentenced at Belfast Crown Court for the killing of 32-year-old Natalie McNally, who was 15 weeks pregnant at the time of her death. The court heard that the crime took place in December 2022 at Ms. McNally’s home in Lurgan, County Armagh.
According to prosecutors, McCullagh created an elaborate alibi by pre-recording several hours of gameplay footage from the video game Grand Theft Auto and presenting it as a live broadcast on his YouTube channel. The video, titled “No Time To Die,” was designed to make it appear that he was streaming online while the attack was taking place.
Investigators determined that McCullagh traveled to Ms. McNally’s residence during the broadcast. Prosecutors said he remained there for less than an hour before leaving the scene. Natalie McNally suffered multiple injuries, including stab wounds and severe trauma, and her unborn child also died as a result of the attack.
Following the killing, McCullagh allegedly attempted to divert suspicion away from himself. Court proceedings revealed that he tried to implicate another individual and later returned to the property, where he made an emergency call claiming to have discovered the victim.
The case shocked the public not only because of the violence involved but also because of the level of planning prosecutors described. Authorities said digital evidence, CCTV footage, transportation records, and mobile phone data eventually exposed inconsistencies in McCullagh’s account.
Investigators discovered that the supposed livestream had been recorded days earlier and was not being broadcast live as viewers were led to believe. The revelation became a key part of the prosecution’s case.
During sentencing, the judge described the murder as calculated, brutal, and meticulously planned. The court noted that the attack resulted in the deaths of both Natalie McNally and her unborn child.
Family members of the victim attended the sentencing hearing, where the judge emphasized the devastating impact of the crime on loved ones and the wider community.
The case has drawn international attention due to the unusual use of online content as part of an attempted cover-up. Legal experts say it serves as a reminder that digital evidence can play a crucial role in modern criminal investigations.
McCullagh will remain in prison for at least 31 years before becoming eligible for parole consideration.
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