A police officer testified in court about the discovery of a pregnant woman’s body alongside a dog bowl filled with blood. The officer’s testimony was part of the trial concerning the alleged murder of Natalie McNally, who was found dead in her home in Lurgan on December 18, 2022.
Natalie McNally, aged 32 and 15 weeks pregnant at the time of her death, was reportedly killed in her residence. The accused, 36-year-old Stephen McCullagh from Lisburn, denied the murder charges brought against him.
During the trial at Belfast Crown Court, the police officer recounted visiting the crime scene on the evening of December 19, 2022. Upon arrival at Silverwood Green, emergency personnel and fellow officers were already present. The officer then entered Natalie McNally’s home.
Inside the house, the officer encountered a visibly distraught McCullagh in the hallway, who was later escorted away by another officer. The officer proceeded upstairs and found Ms. McNally’s body, positioned with her feet at the top of the staircase.
The officer confirmed seeing Ms. McNally lying on her back with blood visible around her neck and a puncture wound. Notably, a dog bowl containing blood was also observed, giving the impression that it had been used to collect the blood.
Additionally, the officer noted the presence of a small black-handled knife in the living room, situated a distance away from the deceased’s head. Bloodstains near the knife were also mentioned. The officer stated that he did not venture beyond the top of the stairs before leaving the premises.
Furthermore, the officer acknowledged the arrest of McCullagh at the scene around 11:40 pm, followed by his detention at Banbridge PSNI station.
