A man who set up a false alibi involving himself livestreaming a video game on YouTube has been found guilty of murdering his pregnant partner.

Natalie McNally, 32, was 15 weeks’ pregnant when she was violently attacked and killed at her home in Lurgan, County Armagh, in December 2022.

Natalie McNally. Photograph: PA

Stephen McCullagh, 36, of Woodland Gardens, Lisburn, was convicted by a jury during the fifth week of the trial at Belfast crown court.

A jury of six men and six women reached their verdict after two hours of deliberations.

During the trial the jury heard how McCullagh had concocted a “cover story” that he had been livestreaming himself playing video games on the evening of Sunday 18 December 2022.

However, McCullagh had recorded six hours of himself playing video games, which he broadcast as live that evening while he took a bus to McNally’s home in Lurgan. Once there he attacked and killed McNally.

McCullagh stood without expression in the dock as the verdict was read out.

McNally’s family and friends filled the public gallery behind the dock and cheered after the verdict was announced.