Evidence Shows Gaming Broadcast Was Pre-Recorded, Trial Hears
A digital forensic analyst has informed Belfast Crown Court that there is "extensive evidence" indicating Stephen McCullagh, who is on trial for the murder of his pregnant partner Natalie McNally, pre-recorded an online gaming broadcast instead of streaming it live.
Natalie McNally was fatally attacked at her Silverwood Green residence in Lurgan on 18 December 2022.
The prosecution alleges that McCullagh presented a six-hour recording of himself playing computer games as a live broadcast on YouTube to establish an alibi for the time of the murder.
Stephen McCullagh, 36, of Woodland Gardens in Lisburn, denies the charge.
'No Indication' of Background Activity During Broadcast
On the fourth day of evidence, Detective Constable Matthews from the Police Service of Northern Ireland's cyber crime centre provided testimony regarding the analysis of several of McCullagh's computer devices.
He stated he discovered "extensive evidence" that the defendant had pre-recorded a six-hour video on the evening of 14 December 2022.
A file related to this recording was saved shortly after midnight on 15 December.
Matthews further explained that computer data showed a camera was connected to the computer during this period, a device that had only been connected once before, on 9 May 2022.
"That was the only other connection that year,"
the officer told the court.
He added that on 18 December, software known as OBS was used to stream the video over YouTube.
However, computer data indicates the stream was not live.
Matthews elaborated that during a live stream, OBS software typically records background activity, such as breaks or adjustments to audio levels.
"But if it was pre-recorded you'd see no activity whatsoever and there was no indication of this activity whatsoever."
He also noted that at 00:05 on 19 December, the file was manually stopped and deleted a minute later.
"That would require the user to manually delete it, it's not automated."
