There has been “a positive update in terms of progress” in the case against a man accused of killing Lurgan mum-to-be Natalie McNally.
Stephen McCullagh, from Woodland Gardens, Lambeg, was not produced over the videolink during the short hearing at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court on Friday, however, a prosecution solicitor confirmed that police had delivered its file to them on Thursday.
She said the file included “two large boxes of hard copy material and the CCTV”.
And while it will take time to go through the materials provided, she told District Judge Bernie Kelly to expect a decision in four weeks time – October 6.
McCullagh is accused of murdering his Ms McNally, who was 15-weeks pregnant – at her Silverwood Green home in Lurgan on December 18, last year.
Stephen McCullagh – the man accused of the murder of Lurgan mum-to-be Natalie McNally
It is the police case that McCullagh was forensically aware and had created a false alibi in the meticulously planned, “sophisticated, calculating and cool headed plot” to kill Ms McNally.
According to the police case, McCullagh was double gloved, forensically aware and had created himself a false alibi in the meticulously planned, “sophisticated, calculating and cool headed plot” to kill her.
When McCullagh was first charged in January, a prosecuting lawyer described how “every moment had been carefully thought through and it’s only due to painstaking police work and sophisticated cyber evidence that he hasn’t got away with it.”
McCullagh had been arrested immediately after Natalie’s body was discovered but was de-arrested as a suspect when police found a six hour YouTube video which McCullagh broadcast on the night of the murder.
It transpired however that video, showing McCullagh playing Grand Theft Auto, had been pre-recorded a week before and the police believe he intentionally used that as a fake alibi.
A significant update on the case is now due on October 6.
