Stephen McCullagh denies murdering his pregnant partner Natalie McNally at her home in Silverwood Green, Lurgan, on December 18, 2022. McNally was 15 weeks pregnant at the time. The 36-year-old from Woodland Gardens, Lisburn, faces the charge at Belfast Crown Court.

The four-week trial concluded evidence presentation this week. Defence barrister John Kearney KC delivered his closing speech to the jury of six men and six women on Thursday. He described the prosecution case as circumstantial, lacking eyewitnesses or direct evidence.

Kearney argued multiple evidential gaps exist, including missing CCTV from a motion-activated camera on McCullagh's street in Woodland Gardens. No footage captured anyone leaving the address on the night of the killing. He noted poor quality in other CCTV sequences and absence of gait or height analysis.

The defence challenged prosecution claims on clothing items seen on a person of interest in CCTV, such as a hat, big black coat, and distinctive trainers. Kearney stated no matching items linked to McCullagh were found during a search of his home.

Kearney pointed to Natalie's unnamed former partner, interviewed as a suspect, as raising doubt. He noted the man had swollen hands at arrest while McCullagh had none. The man's alibi involved staying home with his then-partner during the World Cup final, but Kearney questioned changes in their statements and a phone factory reset.

WhatsApp messages between McCullagh and McNally over 133 days showed no violence, according to Kearney. The defence asserted McCullagh believes the former partner committed the killing.

Mr Justice Kinney addressed the jury after the closing. He instructed jurors to return Friday for his charge to the jury, with deliberations expected to begin Monday.