A Northern Ireland man has been convicted of the meticulously planned and brutally executed murder of his pregnant partner, a crime he attempted to veil with a faked YouTube livestream alibi. Steven McCullagh, 36, was found unanimously guilty by a jury at Belfast Crown Court for killing 32-year-old Natalie McNally in her Lurgan home on December 18, 2022.
The verdict concludes a harrowing case that exposed McCullagh as a calculating narcissist who spent months deceiving the victim, her family, and the public. The court heard how McCullagh, known online as “VoteSaxon07,” recorded a six-hour video days in advance, scheduling it to broadcast live while he traveled to murder Ms. McNally, who was 15 weeks pregnant with their son.
Ms. McNally, described by her family as an intelligent and compassionate animal rights activist, was beaten, stabbed three times in the neck, and strangled in a sustained attack at her Silverwood Green address. Evidence showed she fought desperately for her life and that of her unborn child, who the family has named Dean.
In a grotesque twist, McCullagh posed her body with her head in her dog’s bowl before fleeing. He then embedded himself with Ms. McNally’s grieving family, presenting an engagement ring and performing as the devastated partner, all while secretly recording their private conversations to monitor their suspicion.
His elaborate scheme began to unravel under a meticulous Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) investigation. Detectives painstakingly tracked CCTV footage of a disguised figure traveling from McCullagh’s Lisburn home to Lurgan and back via taxi on the night of the murder.
Critical evidence included the killer’s distinctive marigold-style gloves, seen on bus footage, which matched patterns in blood at the scene. Digital forensic experts proved his laptop was inactive during the supposed livestream, shattering his alibi.
Prosecutors successfully argued that McCullagh’s motive was possessive rage after discovering Ms. McNally was messaging other men and considering leaving him. Text messages revealed her stating she felt “uneasy” in the relationship in the days before her death.
The trial also heard disturbing evidence of McCullagh’s character. A former partner testified to his controlling and violent behavior, including an incident where he assaulted her after she tried to jump from a moving car. A student film he made in 2011 depicted a man threatening a woman with a baseball bat.
Throughout the fake livestream, titled “Violent Night,” McCullagh made chillingly prophetic statements. He played a “Grand Theft Auto” mission called “Waste the Wife,” stating, “I need to kill this [expletive]… I nearly got the bitch,” and hinted his life would change direction in the new year.
Despite no forensic DNA or fingerprint evidence directly placing him at the scene, the overwhelming circumstantial case led the jury to a swift conviction after just two hours of deliberation. McCullagh showed no emotion as the verdict was delivered.
In a victim impact statement, the McNally family said Natalie’s presence was their greatest joy and that she would have been an amazing mother. They expressed profound disappointment with sentencing guidelines in Northern Ireland, fearing McCullagh may one day be released.
“Natalie, you were an inspirational person,” the family stated. “We will love you forever and we hope you can now rest easy.” They also highlighted the tragedy as a stark example of violence against women and girls.
Steven McCullagh, who maintained a not guilty plea and offered no explanation for the faked livestream, is scheduled to be sentenced on May 15, 2026. He faces a mandatory life sentence, with the judge to determine the minimum tariff he must serve before being considered for parole.
Legal experts note that while aggravating factors like premeditation, pregnancy, and attack in the home will increase the tariff, the absence of a prior criminal record may reduce it. The case has sparked renewed debate about sentencing for domestic homicide in the UK.
The murder has sent shockwaves through communities in Northern Ireland, revealing the terrifying duality of a man who curated a harmless online persona as a toy-collecting geek while harboring violent, misogynistic fantasies. His capture demonstrates the relentless work of detectives to dismantle even the most arrogant criminal’s illusions of invincibility.