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Jury Sworn as Natalie McNally Murder Trial Opens at Belfast Crown Court

Proceedings went ahead following an exemption from criminal barristers’ strike action.

Overview

  • Evidence is scheduled to begin Tuesday, with the judge indicating the hearing is likely to last around five weeks.
  • A panel of six men and six women was selected on Monday after directions from Mr Justice Patrick Kinney.
  • The Criminal Bar Association granted an exemption to allow the case to proceed despite ongoing industrial action.
  • Defendant Stephen McCullagh, 35, of Woodland Gardens in Lisburn, denies murdering Natalie McNally, 32, who was fatally stabbed at her Lurgan home on 18 December 2022 while 15 weeks pregnant.
  • The trial had been postponed from November after a large volume of new evidence was disclosed to the defence.