03 February 2023 , 07:53
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A man accused of murdering a pregnant woman staged a livestream of himself playing a video game the same night she died, a court heard.
Stephen McCullagh, 32, is said to have set up the broadcast on his YouTube channel, with footage appearing to show him playing Grand Theft Auto for six hours.
Natalie McNally, also 32, was stabbed to death at her home in Lurgan, County Armagh, Northern Ireland, on December 18 last year.
She was 15 weeks pregnant at the time.
PSNI Detective Chief Inspector Neil McGuinness said an extensive examination of the defendant's devices by cyber experts indicates the footage was pre-recorded.
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He said it was played out as if it was live.
The senior investigator went on to note that McCullagh, of Lisburn, told his 37,000 subscribers he was not able to interact with them due to technical issues.
Friends, family members and supporters of murder victim Natalie McNally outside the court (PA)Mr McGuinness told district judge Rosie Watters the defendant conceded in a police interview that the purported live stream was pre-recorded by him days earlier, reports BelfastLive.
McCullagh, however, denies involvement in Ms McNally's murder.
Lisburn Magistrates Court was told McCullagh was initially arrested before being rule out as a suspect by police on the basis of the alleged livestream alibi.
He was charged on Thursday.
Mr McGuinness said McCullagh, who works in the local media industry, then went on to interact with the McNally family in the weeks that followed.
Ms McNally, who was 15 weeks pregnant, was stabbed in her home (PA)He claimed the accused left his phone in the home of McNally’s parents and recorded 40 minutes of audio.
Ms McNally’s parents Noel and Bernie and brothers Declan, Niall and Brendan were in court as this evidence was outlined.
McCullagh watched proceedings via video link from a police custody suite.
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He was remanded in custody to appear before Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on February 24 via video link.