Stephen McCullagh, Convicted of Murdering Pregnant Partner, Calls Himself a 'Monster'
Man who killed pregnant partner and left her face down in dog bowl says 'I'm a monster'
Image: Dailystar Co Uk
Stephen McCullagh, convicted of murdering his pregnant partner Natalie McNally, expressed remorse during his sentencing hearing, referring to himself as a 'monster.' McNally, who was 15 weeks pregnant, suffered severe injuries in a brutal attack at their home in Lurgan, Northern Ireland. The court highlighted McCullagh's attempts to fabricate an alibi and shift blame, revealing a complex narrative of denial and manipulation.
- 01Stephen McCullagh was convicted of murdering Natalie McNally, who was 15 weeks pregnant, in December 2022.
- 02McCullagh described the murder as 'evil' and 'vicious,' while also claiming he wanted to be part of the solution for other men.
- 03Prosecution highlighted that McCullagh staged a false alibi by live-streaming a gaming session, which was actually pre-recorded.
- 04The court heard that McNally suffered severe injuries, including stab wounds and blunt force trauma, during the attack.
- 05Trial Judge Mr Justice Kinney is expected to deliver the sentencing on June 3.
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Stephen McCullagh, aged 36, has been convicted of murdering his pregnant partner, Natalie McNally, who was 32 and 15 weeks pregnant at the time of her death in December 2022. During a recent sentencing hearing at Belfast Crown Court, McCullagh referred to himself as a 'monster' and expressed remorse for his actions, stating, 'I'm sorry for what I did to that poor family, what I did to Natalie.' Despite this, he initially denied the murder charge and attempted to fabricate an alibi, claiming he was live-streaming a gaming session when the crime occurred. However, evidence revealed that the stream was pre-recorded, undermining his defense. Prosecutors described the murder as a 'brutal assault,' detailing severe injuries inflicted on McNally, including stab wounds and blunt force trauma. The prosecution argued that McCullagh's actions were premeditated, as he staged a performance to mislead authorities after the murder. The trial judge is set to announce the sentencing on June 3, with discussions about the appropriate minimum term for McCullagh's sentence ongoing.
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The case has drawn significant attention in Northern Ireland, highlighting issues of domestic violence and the treatment of pregnant women.
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