Stephen McCullagh, a 36-year-old content creator from Woodland Gardens in Lisburn, has been sentenced to serve at least 31 years in prison for murdering his pregnant girlfriend.

McCullagh killed his partner Natalie McNally while she was pregnant, according to court proceedings. To cover up the crime, he staged a fake gaming livestream on YouTube that he intended to use as an alibi.

The case highlights how digital platforms and streaming technology have been exploited in criminal schemes. McCullagh apparently believed the fake livestream would provide evidence that he was elsewhere during the time of the murder.

Court records show that McCullagh was ultimately convicted of murder despite his attempted digital deception. The sentence ensures he will spend more than three decades behind bars for the killing of McNally and their unborn child.

The case was prosecuted in Northern Ireland, where McCullagh resided. Details about how investigators uncovered the fake alibi scheme were not immediately available from court proceedings.