YouTube alibi fails: Man from Lisburn convicted of murdering pregnant partner

Stephen McCullagh, 36, from Lisburn in Northern Ireland, has been convicted of murdering his pregnant partner Natalie McNally. The court rejected his alibi based on YouTube viewing history. McCullagh must serve a minimum of 31 years in prison.

Stephen McCullagh, 36, from Lisburn in Northern Ireland, has been convicted of murdering his pregnant partner Natalie McNally and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 31 years. The case attracted widespread attention due to an unusual attempt to create a digital alibi using YouTube viewing history.

Digital alibi collapses

McCullagh claimed in court that he was watching YouTube videos at home at the time of the murder and presented this as his alibi. Investigators, however, were able to prove that having videos playing does not necessarily mean they were actually being watched – the content displayed on screen could have been playing without McCullagh being present in the room.

Natalie McNally was murdered in December 2022 in her home in Lurgan. McNally was 15 weeks pregnant at the time of the murder. The case shocked the Northern Ireland public and police launched an extensive investigation, which eventually led to McCullagh's arrest.

Court ruling and sentence

The court rejected the alibi evidence and found McCullagh guilty of murder. He was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum custodial term of 31 years, meaning he cannot be released on licence before this period expires. According to the prosecution, this was a particularly brutal crime given that the victim was pregnant.