Warning: distressing content

A Belfast man who murdered his heavily pregnant former partner in her Donaghadee home carried out a sustained 19-minute attack before leaving the property, collecting their other child and even stopping at Primark to change his clothes.

Zak Hughes, 29, killed Sarah Montgomery, 27, on June 27, 2025, while she was 32 weeks pregnant with their unborn son, Liam Arthur.

The couple already had two children together. One of their young children was waiting in a vehicle outside the property as Hughes launched what prosecutors described as a “cold blooded, systematic, murderous attack”.

Hughes, of Ardglen Place in Belfast’s Ardoyne area, pleaded guilty at Belfast Crown Court to Montgomery’s murder and child destruction.

At a hearing in June, Madam Justice McBride indicated that, because of the guilty pleas, the only sentence available was life imprisonment. The case was later described in court as one of the worst examples of domestic violence in recent times.

Sarah Montgomery, 27, was murdered by her former partner Zak Hughes, 29, at her home in Donaghadee i (Image: PA)

He used a Father’s Day gift during the attack

Among the objects Hughes used to assault Montgomery was a water bottle she had bought for him as a Father’s Day present from their two children.

The attack began after Montgomery confronted Hughes about lies he had told her concerning his fiancée’s pregnancy.

An audio recording of the assault was recovered from Montgomery’s mobile phone. Prosecutors told the court that the recording captured her screams as the attack unfolded.

The violence continued for approximately 19 minutes.

A post-mortem examination found at least 59 separate applications of blunt force trauma. Montgomery died as a result of what was described as a “sustained blunt force trauma attack”.

The court heard that the evidence against Hughes included the recording, CCTV footage, witness statements and his eventual admission that he had carried out the killing.

Zak Hughes was also the father of the child Sarah Montgomery, 27, had been expecting (Image: Unknown)

Their relationship had become increasingly troubled

Hughes and Montgomery first met while attending Glastry College and later began a relationship.

Their relationship became increasingly unstable after the birth of their first child and was described in court as “on and off”.

Hughes subsequently questioned whether he was the father of their second child, but a DNA test confirmed that he was.

Montgomery had been 32 weeks pregnant when she was killed. She was expecting a baby boy, whom she had already named Liam Arthur, and who was due to be born in August.

The court also heard that Montgomery had lost both of her parents. She was particularly close to her grandfather and great aunt, who played important roles in the lives of both her and her children.

She was also a source of support for her brothers and had a close group of friends. Her family had been due to gather for a meal on Sunday, June 29.

Montgomery had discovered the truth about Hughes’ fiancée

In the weeks before the murder, Hughes had told Montgomery that his fiancée had lost their baby in a car accident.

Montgomery later discovered that this was not true.

She sent Hughes a message telling him that she knew what had happened. Hughes replied that they would discuss the matter in person.

On Friday, June 27, Hughes arrived at Montgomery’s flat to collect one of their children, as part of his regular arrangement to have the children for the weekend.

CCTV showed the child walking towards Hughes’ vehicle and waiting there.

Inside the property, Hughes attacked Montgomery.

Prosecutors said the assault was deliberate and systematic, lasting around 19 minutes.

He left her phone behind and drove away

After the attack, Hughes took Montgomery’s mobile phone, secured the door and left the property.

He then went to collect their other child from a local primary school before travelling towards Belfast.

Prosecutors said his actions meant Montgomery had no opportunity to call for assistance if she had survived the assault. They also said the circumstances prevented anyone from discovering her quickly enough to potentially save her or her unborn baby.

Staff at the primary school later described Hughes as appearing flustered when he arrived.

Rather than going directly home, Hughes made several stops.

He went to Primark in Newtownards, where he bought new clothes and changed his outfit.

He then disposed of Montgomery’s phone and keys at one location, while his blood-stained clothing and the water bottle were discarded elsewhere.

Despite having killed Montgomery, Hughes also sent two text messages to her phone.

He later attended a baby shower for his fiancée.

Her grandfather found her the next day

Montgomery was not discovered until the following day.

Her grandfather found her lying face down on her side and covered in blood.

Attempts were made to resuscitate her, but she was already described as cold and stiff.

Hughes was arrested on Sunday.

He initially denied involvement in Montgomery’s death before changing his account and eventually admitting what he had done.

Court hears of the impact on her family

Hughes sat silently in the dock during the hearing, wearing a white T-shirt and glasses, as Montgomery’s relatives and friends watched from the public gallery.

The prosecution described the killing as a particularly grave case of domestic violence and drew comparisons with the murder of pregnant woman Natalie McNally by Stephen McCullagh in Lurgan, Co Armagh, in 2022.

During sentencing proceedings, the judge observed that “femicide is a real issue in this jurisdiction”.

A defence lawyer accepted the horrific nature of the case and acknowledged that there was nothing he could say that could take away from what had happened.

He instead highlighted Hughes’ guilty plea and the fact that the admission had allowed the case to be resolved more quickly.

Madam Justice McBride said she would take time to consider the submissions before determining the tariff—the minimum period Hughes must serve before becoming eligible for consideration for release.

A further review hearing has been scheduled for the following Friday.