A Northern Irish YouTuber, Stephen McCullagh, has been found guilty of murdering his pregnant girlfriend, Natalie McNally. The court gave its decision on March 23, 2026, after a four-week trial at Belfast Crown Court. McCullagh had tried to prove he was not at the crime scene by saying he was live-streaming video games. However, this claim was later proven false. The case has shocked many people because of how carefully the crime was planned and how it was hidden using technology.
Natalie McNally, who was 32 years old and 15 weeks pregnant, was attacked at her home in Lurgan, County Armagh, on December 18, 2022. She was stabbed many times, strangled, and beaten.
McCullagh, who is 36 and from Lisburn, told police that he was at home playing games online for several hours that evening. He said he was live-streaming games like Grand Theft Auto to show he could not have done the crime.
YouTuber Stephen McCullagh guilty after fake GTA livestream alibi exposed
During the trial, experts showed that McCullagh’s livestream was not real. It was actually recorded four days before the murder. This meant he was not live at all during the time of the crime. He had also avoided talking to viewers during the stream and said there were
Later, he admitted to police that the stream was not live.
The court also saw other important evidence. CCTV footage and phone records showed his movements. Prosecutors said he may have been jealous after seeing messages from other men on Natalie’s phone. They believe this could be the reason behind the attack.
The jury, made up of six men and six women, took just over two hours to decide. They all agreed that McCullagh was guilty. The judge will decide his sentence, but he will probably have to serve a life sentence.
This crime shows how tricks with technology can sometimes try to cover up a crime, but technology can also reveal the truth. Although McCullagh attempted to build a strong alibi by pretending to play a video game, the truth was finally revealed.
