Stephen McCullagh, 26, is sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his pregnant girlfriend, Natalie McNally, 32. According to reports, McCullagh used a fabricated “live” video broadcast in which he appeared to be playing Grand Theft Auto, shared on YouTube on the night of the killing. The prosecution case, as described by outlets, holds that the livestream was staged to create the impression that he was at home playing video games while Ms McNally was killed. The Mirror reports that he was previously sentenced to 31 years earlier this month and that he attempted to influence the outcome by claiming or presenting circumstances supported by the fake livestream. The Independent and The Mirror both describe the same central conduct: the creation of a false broadcast intended to mislead others about his whereabouts during the murder.
All accounts agree that the victim was pregnant and that McCullagh is convicted of murder. They also concur on the use of a falsified GTA livestream connected to the time of the killing, though they emphasize different aspects of sentencing and the stated intent behind his attempt to appeal.
