A jury at Belfast Crown Court convicted Stephen McCullagh, 36, of Woodland Gardens in Lisburn, of murdering Natalie McNally, 32, at her home in Silverwood Green, Lurgan, on December 18, 2022. McNally was 15 weeks pregnant with their son. The jury of six men and six women deliberated for two hours before delivering the verdict on Monday.

Mr Justice Kinney sentenced McCullagh to a mandatory life term. A tariff hearing to set the minimum term is scheduled for May 15. The judge excused the jury from future service and thanked them for their work.

McCullagh pre-recorded a six-hour gaming stream on December 14, 2022, and broadcast it as live on his YouTube channel votesaxon07 on the night of the murder. PSNI cyber experts confirmed it was pre-recorded. McCullagh admitted to police after his January 2023 re-arrest that he created the video in advance. YouTube removed the channel on Tuesday for policy violations.

McNally suffered stab wounds to the neck, blows to the head, and neck compression. McCullagh met her in August 2022. She became pregnant by November. Prosecution evidence showed he accessed her phone and viewed her messages with other men.

Police arrested McCullagh on December 19, 2022, but released him on December 24 as no longer a suspect. He attended a rally in Lurgan Park on January 28, 2023, with McNally's parents Noel and Bernie, and brothers Brendan, Niall, and Declan. Her cousin Gavin Haddock met McCullagh there. Police re-arrested McCullagh on January 31 and charged him on February 2.

Outside court, Niall McNally and Declan McNally thanked supporters. Niall expressed hopes that other victims of violence against women receive justice. Declan described his sister as inspirational and praised his parents' strength.

Justice Minister Naomi Long praised Noel and Bernie McNally for attending the full trial. She noted the Department of Justice passed related legislation in the previous mandate and plans further measures and policies for domestic violence protection.

Alliance Upper Bann MLA Eoin Tennyson remembered McNally during Northern Ireland Assembly statements on Tuesday.