In a jaw-dropping courtroom revelation that has left even seasoned detectives stunned, Stephen McCullagh’s meticulously crafted “perfect murder” blueprint was ripped apart piece by piece — exposing how the cold-blooded killer tried to fool the world with a sophisticated six-hour fake gaming livestream while he slaughtered his pregnant girlfriend Natalie McNally in her own home.

The 36-year-old, from Woodland Gardens in Lisburn, was unanimously convicted of Natalie’s murder on March 23, 2026, at Craigavon Crown Court after a trial that laid bare one of the most audacious and calculated alibis ever attempted in a Northern Ireland murder case. McCullagh didn’t just kill Natalie — he allegedly planned every sickening detail, including recording hours of himself playing video games days in advance, then broadcasting it as a “live” stream to create the illusion he was safely at home the entire time she was being attacked 17 miles away in Lurgan.

Natalie McNally, a vibrant 29-year-old who was just 15 weeks pregnant with the couple’s first child, was found brutally stabbed and beaten to death in her Silverwood home on the night of December 18, 2022. Prosecutors described the killing as “planned, calculated, and premeditated” — a vicious attack designed to eliminate both mother and unborn baby while McCullagh tried to establish an unbreakable digital alibi.

The centrepiece of his twisted scheme? A six-hour-and-four-minute YouTube livestream on his channel “Votesaxon07,” where he appeared to be casually gaming, drinking Guinness and Baileys, wearing a Santa hat, and chatting with viewers in real time. He called the stream “The Violent Night Christmas Live Gaming Stream,” playing Grand Theft Auto and Robot Wars while ranting about being a “very angry gamer” and complaining that his live chat wasn’t working properly.

It was all a lie.

Cyber crime experts from the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s digital forensics unit tore the alibi to shreds during the trial. They proved beyond any doubt that the entire six-hour broadcast had been pre-recorded on December 14 and 15 — four days before the murder — and then cleverly uploaded and streamed as if it were happening live on the night Natalie was killed. The analysis showed the video file had been saved, edited, and later deleted from McCullagh’s computer the day after the murder in a desperate attempt to cover his tracks.

McCullagh initially peddled the fake livestream to police as his rock-solid alibi, claiming he had been at home the entire evening glued to his gaming setup. He even repeated the story to multiple people, insisting he couldn’t possibly have been in Lurgan committing the crime. But when confronted with the forensic evidence, he was forced to admit in a pre-prepared statement that the stream was pre-recorded — a stunning collapse of what he clearly believed was his foolproof plan.

Courtroom footage played during the trial showed McCullagh on the supposed “live” stream, drinking, swearing at game characters, and making casual references to being online in real time. He even told viewers he couldn’t check the live chat because of supposed internet issues — a clever touch designed to explain away any lack of real-time interaction. But the digital trail told a different story: timestamps, file metadata, and computer logs proved the entire performance had been staged days earlier.

While that fake livestream was supposedly running, McCullagh allegedly disguised himself, took a bus to Lurgan, walked to Natalie’s home, and carried out the brutal attack. Prosecutors told the jury he had planned the murder with cold precision, using the pre-recorded gaming session to buy himself an alibi that appeared airtight in the digital age.

The jury took just over four hours to reach their unanimous guilty verdict, convicting McCullagh of the murder of Natalie and, effectively, their unborn daughter. The courtroom fell silent as the foreman delivered the word “guilty.” Gasps and quiet sobs came from the public gallery where Natalie’s devastated family sat, many openly weeping as years of pain finally gave way to justice.

Natalie’s loved ones described her as a kind, joyful young woman who was “excited beyond words” about becoming a mother. Her family released a statement after the verdict: “Stephen McCullagh didn’t just take Natalie from us — he took our granddaughter too. Today we have justice, but nothing will ever bring them back.”

The case has sent shockwaves through Northern Ireland, reigniting painful conversations about domestic violence, coercive control, and the terrifying lengths some abusers will go to cover their crimes. Campaigners have called McCullagh’s fake livestream one of the most calculated alibis they have ever seen — a chilling example of how modern technology can be twisted to hide the darkest acts.

McCullagh now faces a mandatory life sentence, with a judge expected to set a minimum tariff in the coming weeks. Sources close to the investigation say the premeditated nature of the crime, the use of a sophisticated digital alibi, and the fact that Natalie was pregnant are all likely to push the minimum term significantly higher.

As McCullagh is led away to begin his sentence, the focus turns once again to Natalie McNally — a young woman full of life whose dreams of motherhood were brutally stolen in her own home. Her family and friends have vowed to keep her memory alive, ensuring that her story and the tiny life she carried are never forgotten.

The “perfect murder” plan that Stephen McCullagh thought would fool everyone has been completely dismantled. What he believed was a flawless digital shield turned out to be the very evidence that sealed his fate.

A young mother and her unborn child are gone. A calculated killer has been exposed. And justice, though it can never heal the pain, has finally been served.