€33k present from Friends
Accused will stand trial for allegedly killing pregnant partner in autumn
A MAN appeared in court yesterday where he denied murdering his pregnant partner.
Natalie Mcnallly, who was 32 and 15 weeks pregnant, died in her home in Lurgan, Co Armagh, in December 2022.
Stephen Mccullagh, 33, will stand trial in September.
As the family and friends of Ms Mcnally sat in the public gallery of Belfast Crown Court, Mccullagh was brought into the dock.
The defendant, from Woodlands Garden, Lisburn, Co Antrim, was told to stand and after confirming his identity to a court clerk, he was charged with murdering Ms
Mcnally on a date between December 17 and 20, 2022.
When asked how he pleaded, Mccullagh replied “not guilty.”
Mr Justice O’hara then enquired about a trial and was told by defence barrister John Kearney KC that the hearing is expected to last three to four weeks.
Counsel raised the issue about a venue for trial.
Revealing there will be a “considerable” amount of CCTV evidence presented to the jury, Mr Kearney asked the trial be held in Belfast.
He said this was due to technical reasons and added the city would be better equipped to deal with the IT requirements needed and would be the “preferred option”.
Mr Justice O’hara set a trial date for Monday, September 9.
He then told the packed court: “I know this will not seem very fast at all for family and friends of Ms Mcnally and perhaps even for the defendant.
“It’s now been over a year since her death and a trial in September is as fast as we can arrange things to proceed.”
After setting the trial date and Belfast as the provisional venue, the senior Judge said he would review the case in March.
Mccullagh was then handcuffed and led from the dock by prison staff.
The accused did not acknowledge Ms Mcnally’s family and friends as he walked past them and into custody.
TWO original scripts from Friends have fetched almost €33,000 at auction, 25 years after being found in a TV studio bin.
An office worker discovered the scripts after The One With Ross’s Wedding Part I and II were filmed at Fountain Studios in North London in 1998.
She kept them in a bedside drawer until deciding to sell them.
They smashed the guide price of €700 to €900 at the Hanson Ross sale in Royston, Herts, yesterday.