A YouTuber who was convicted of killing his pregnant girlfriend has launched an appeal against a life sentence, arguing against the conviction and the term imposed after the prosecution said he staged a misleading “Grand Theft Auto” livestream as part of the crime.

The case focused on how the defendant allegedly tried to divert attention while his partner was dying, using the online broadcast to create the appearance of normal activity. Prosecutors said the livestream deception formed a central part of the narrative the court ultimately rejected.

While the appeal is underway, additional details reported from inside custody have also drawn attention. Coverage said the prisoner—identified in reporting only by his case details—was positioned at the top of an internal “hitlist” in a Belfast prison, citing fears he would be targeted by other inmates.

In reported accounts, prison staff were alerted to threats and the inmate’s location and safety measures were adjusted, with authorities handling the situation under prison security procedures designed to prevent violence.

The appeal will now be considered through the appropriate court process. The reporting around the “hitlist” and the livestream element has intensified scrutiny of both the original investigation and how the case was handled in the period leading up to sentencing.