YouTuber allegedly used pre-recorded 'GTA' livestream as alibi in girlfriend's murder

A YouTuber, accused of ending his pregnant girlfriend's life, purportedly established a six-hour gaming stream featuring Grand Theft Auto to fabricate an alibi while allegedly visiting her home and committing the act, as claimed by prosecutors.

Stephen McCullagh — who maintained a following of approximately 37,000 on his YouTube channel — streamed what seemed to be a live game session on the night of December 18, 2022, the night when prosecutors claim 32-year-old Natalie McNally was murdered at her home in Lurgan, Northern Ireland, The Guardian reported.

The video implied that McCullagh informed viewers he was unable to engage with them live due to technical difficulties, according to the source.

Nevertheless, cyber specialists eventually confirmed the video was not live but prerecorded, Detective Chief Inspector Neil McGuinness revealed in court. 

McCullagh later allegedly admitted in a written declaration to law enforcement that the so-called livestream had been filmed several days in advance, the source mentioned.

Prosecutors contend that while the video aired, McCullagh travelled by bus from Dunmurry to Lurgan, carried out the stabbing of McNally, and then took a taxi home.

During the trial's commencement at Belfast Crown Court this week, prosecutor Charles MacCreanor KC described the act as “a cold, calculated, and premeditated murder planned by the defendant” with an intent “to evade capture,” reported BBC.

The jurors also listened to a recording of the emergency call McCullagh made the night after. 

The call captures him crying and telling the dispatcher, “Please arrive quickly, she's expecting a child, she's unresponsive and cold,” adding further, “There's blood all over,” reports the BBC.

The prosecution labelled the call as “a performance” devised to help him “avoid accountability,” according to the BBC.

McNally, who was 15 weeks pregnant, endured severe stabbing injuries as well as blunt trauma to her neck and head, the BBC reported. 

Prosecutors argue that both the neck compression and stab injuries were sufficient to result in her demise.

At first, McCullagh was not deemed a suspect because of the alleged gaming stream alibi. Subsequently, he faced murder charges but denies committing the crime, as mentioned in The Guardian.