A new trial date for the man accused of murdering Natalie McNally is hoped to be officially set on September 10.
In January, Stephen McCullagh’s trial date was provisionally scheduled for next month.
McCullagh has pleaded not guilty to murdering the pregnant Ms McNally, who was killed in her Lurgan home in December 2022.
McCullagh’s defence team had submitted a Section 8 application, which under criminal law means that the accused can apply to the court for an order, requiring the prosecutor to disclose material to him which has not been given to his defence previously.
Today, a prosecuting lawyer confirmed to Laganside Crown Court that each item that appeared on the Section 8 application has now been addressed; some items are with the defence and a small number are effectively under review.
The prosecuting lawyer said that it would take approximately two weeks for said items to be reviewed within the Public Prosecution Service, to then be signed off on by counsel specifically.
McCullagh’s defence barrister Craig Patton noted that the material handed over is 81 pages long and that he will need to look over it and cross-reference that to the request for information made by the defence.
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The defence had also previously made a request for more time to brief expert witnesses.
Mr Patton confirmed today that now “some of the issues have been clarified, in particular what CCTV footage is available, I believe that we are now in a position where we can instruct our video expert and some gait analysis. Now that can commence and I hope to have letters of instruction out over the next two weeks.”
The defence has also asked for four weeks to decide whether their Section 8 application is to be pursued further (for more information), which takes the court date to September 10.
The judge noted that he wants a note from the defence team by Thursday, September 5, about what is still in dispute and why; the court then will aim to fix a new trial date on September 10.
Ms McNally was 15 weeks pregnant with McCullagh’s child when she was stabbed in her home on Silverwood Green in Lurgan a week before Christmas 2022.
According to the police case, McCullagh was double-gloved, forensically aware and had created himself a false alibi in the meticulously planned, “sophisticated, calculating and cool-headed plot” to kill Ms McNally.