A series of WhatsApp messages between Natalie McNally and her alleged killer have been outlined at his murder trial.
Stephen McCullagh, aged 36, is accused of the murder of his partner at her home in Lurgan in December 2022.
Ms McNally, 32, had been beaten, strangled and stabbed.
Mr McCullagh, from Woodland Gardens in Lisburn, denies the charge.
On day 15 of the trial the jury heard how the couple had met on the dating app Bumble in the summer of 2022.
Over the following 133 days there was constant two-way communication between them.
The messages run to an evidence bundle of 500 pages.
The first message was on 7 August that year.
Mr McCullagh began the conversation saying: "Hey Nat it's that robot weirdo from Bumble."
The trial has heard how the defendant had an interest in Star Wars and other science fiction memorabilia.
The last message was on 19 December, the day that Ms McNally's body was found.
She was 15 weeks pregnant with the defendant’s child.
Defence counsel John Kearney KC put it to the senior investigating officer in the case that the messages were characterised by the "normality and banality" of everyday life.
Topics covered included work, hobbies, pets and the death of Hollywood star Olivia Newton John.
Mr Kearney said that the tone of the messages showed a harmonious relationship.
He contrasted this with the messages between Ms McNally and a former boyfriend, which he said contained multiple references to arguments and disputes.
The jury has already heard that the defendant had blamed Ms McNally's ex-boyfriend for her murder.
Mr Kearney said by contrast her engagements with Mr McCullagh were "polar opposites".
"No arguments, no rows, not a nasty word," Mr Kearney said.
The jury was told how the relationship had progressed from the dating app into direct messaging on WhatsApp.
A number of dates were organised in August when the couple went for a drink, bowling and to play crazy golf.
The senior investigating officer agreed that the messages indicated that as they grew closer, they had swapped addresses and appeared to have spent time in each other's homes, including overnight.
The jury heard how Ms McNally had told the defendant by message in mid-October 2022 that she was pregnant.
Mr Kearney said the tone of the messages contained no suggestion that the defendant had not taken the news well.
He said the messages contained references to Ms McNally selling her home and moving in with the accused.
He said there was more "happy couple chat" about the pregnancy and their plans for the future.
Around that time there was a series of references to Ms McNally loving the accused, which he reciprocated.
There were also references to "Baby Squish" a pet name for their unborn child.
Mr Kearney put it to the detective inspector that there were "considerable expressions of mutual love and affection peppered throughout the messages".
The officer agreed.
Defence will not be calling any witnesses
The jury has been told it will hear no further evidence in the case.
The defence team confirmed this afternoon that it would not be calling any witnesses.
It means that Mr McCullagh will not be giving evidence in his own defence.
In the coming days the jury will hear closing submissions from both the prosecution and the defence.
The judge will then address them before they are sent out to consider their verdict.
The case will not sit tomorrow as it is a public holiday.
