McCullagh texts Natalie’s phone and his friend Anne to further embed his alibi.
The messages suggest Natalie may be angry with him for drinking during her pregnancy and also that she may be having difficulties with her diabetes.
He also finds time to post a video review of a Star Wars Lightsaber toy.
That evening he travels to Lurgan, apparently to check on Natalie who no-one has heard from for almost 24 hours.
He calls 999 from Natalie’s home, sobbing.
Over the course of a 10-minute call, emergency services are told “she’s gone” and that there’s “blood everywhere”. He conducts CPR.
Prosecutors told the court it was all an act.
McCullagh tells police at the scene that he believes an “abusive ex-partner” was responsible.
He also tells them about his live stream the previous night. He is arrested at the scene but later released.
Police had accepted his alibi and, on Christmas Eve, told McCullagh he was no longer viewed as a suspect.
The former partner McCullagh had accused is also arrested and interviewed – he too has an alibi and is released.
That alibi was outlined thoroughly in court during McCullagh’s trial, with the jury shown a video of him asleep in front of the TV during the World Cup final.
