Pathologist says Natalie McNally endured prolonged assault

Natalie McNally endured a "prolonged assault" that included multiple stab wounds, strangulation and several heavy blows to the head when she was killed, the trial of the man accused of murdering her has heard.

State pathologist Dr James Lyness, who carried out the autopsy on the 32-year-old's body, detailed dozens of injuries to her head, face, neck, chest and limbs.

Natalie was 15 weeks pregnant when she was killed in her home in Silverwood Green in Lurgan in December 2022.

Stephen McCullagh, 36, from Woodland Gardens in Lisburn denies murdering her.

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Natalie's injuries included stab wounds, lacerations, bruises and abrasions, as well as bleeding around her brain.

Injuries to her hands, the pathologist said, could have been consistent with Natalie "throwing a punch".

Lyness told the jury of six men and six women at Belfast Crown Court that this was a "complex case" and it was therefore difficult to be certain of the exact cause of Natalie's death.

He said both the neck compression and stab wounds could have caused her death on their own.

He added it was "difficult to completely exclude the possibility that the multiple head injuries she sustained" may have also contributed to her death.

The court also heard from a police constable who arrested and cautioned McCullagh, who was present when emergency services attended the scene.

Footage from his body worn camera was shown to the court. Upon his arrest for suspicion of murder and following his caution, McCullagh could be heard saying: "Murder - why?"

The second day of the murder trial also heard from a police sergeant said he attended the scene following a 999 call.

The sergeant told the court Natalie was found lying on the first floor, with her head in the living room and her feet protruding into the hallway.

"There was blood visible around her neck. I noticed a puncture wound," he said.

He said he also saw a silver dog bowl, close to Natalie's head, which "looked like it had been used to collect blood".

He said that from his vantage point from the top of the stairs, he saw a black-handled knife.

Close to that, he said, he saw "some blood on the lower part of the wall - about a foot up".

The trial continues.