A trial concerning the murder of pregnant Lurgan woman Natalie McNally took a step closer to conclusion today (Friday) when the presiding judge addressed the jury.
The 32-year old was 15 weeks pregnant when she was beaten, strangled and stabbed in her Silverwood Green home between 8.50pm and 9.30pm on Sunday, December 18, 2022.
The father of her unborn child, 36-year old Stephen McCullagh from Woodland Gardens in Lisburn, has been accused of and has denied her murder.
As the fourth week of the hearing concluded at Belfast Crown Court, Mr Justice Kinney addressed the jury and said: “It’s the end of the trial.
“You have heard all of the evidence of the case. You’ve heard the closing remarks and the arguments made by counsel on behalf of both the prosecution and the defendant.”
The senior Judge told the six men and women that having heard all the evidence, it was now up to them to “decide what aspects of the evidence you accept and what parts you reject and you will then be in a position to decide what conclusions to draw from the evidence you accept.”
Mr Justice Kinney reminded the jurors of the various ways evidence was heard which included witnesses giving evidence from the witness box as well as CCTV evidence and from social media.
Urging them to only consider evidence “you have seen and heard in this courtroom and in this trial”, Mr Justice Kinney told them not to speculate.
The jurors were told their focus was on McCullagh and it was up to them to determine whether or not he was guilty of murdering Ms McNally.
He also reminded them that an ex-boyfriend of Ms McNally’s, who McCullagh believes killed her, “is not the defendant in this case”.
Saying “there was no evidence at the murder scene to say who committed the murder”, Mr Justice Kinney said it was the Crown’s case that it was McCullagh and the defence’s case that it wasn’t.
He told the jury that each piece of circumstantial evidence must be carefully examined.
This, the Judge said, included CCTV footage of a ‘person of interest’ captured on various cameras in both Lisburn and Lurgan on the evening of the murder.
The Crown have argued that the ‘person of interest’ in the footage is McCullagh and that this same person was dropped off outside McCullagh’s home in Lisburn after taking a taxi from Lurgan.
The defence, however, raised the issue of the poor quality of some of the footage and have argued that McCullagh cannot possibly be identified as the ‘person of interest.’
The senior judge is due to conclude his charge to the jury on Monday morning.
Before excusing them for the day, Mr Justice Kinney told the 12 jurors that when he finishes addressing them next week, they will then be asked to retire to their room and begin their deliberations.
The trial so far…
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Murder accused believes ‘always and forever’ that killer was Natalie McNally’s ex boyfriend, court hears
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Natalie McNally murder accused ‘has lied and lied again’, prosecution says during closing arguments
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Accused Stephen McCullagh refuses to give evidence or call witnesses
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Section of police interview with Natalie McNally murder suspect played to jury
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Natalie McNally murder trial: Texts between three males and victim read to jury
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Natalie McNally murder trial: Ex-partner’s girlfriend tells jury ‘we did not plan any sort of alibi’
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Ex-boyfriend denies killing or that he ‘recruited’ anyone to help him murder Natalie McNally
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Ex-partner recalled being told ‘she’s been murdered’ in Snapchat message
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‘You killed her’: Ex-boyfriend tells accused in court during Natalie McNally murder trial
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Ex-partner tells court she was ‘slapped and punched’ by Natalie McNally murder accused during late-night car journey
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‘He just kept howling and crying’: Best friend of murder accused tells court of call on night Natalie McNally was found dead
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Mum breaks down in court as she recalls only daughter’s murder
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Man accused of murdering Natalie McNally told police ‘aggressive’ ex-boyfriend had been harassing her
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CCTV footage concerning ‘person of interest’ shown to jurors at Natalie McNally murder trial
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Cyber expert tells trial there was ‘extensive evidence’ live stream was pre-recorded
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YouTube ‘live stream’ made by man accused of Natalie McNally murder played for jury
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Natalie McNally subjected to ‘prolong assault’ and likely her unborn child ‘died as a result’, says pathologist
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Dog bowl beside head of Natalie McNally ‘almost like it had been used to collect the blood’, murder trial hears
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Constable ‘tried to console’ accused who was ‘distraught’ at scene
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Jury hears 999 call from man accused of killing pregnant partner
