A CO Antrim man will stand trial next year for the murder of Chloe Mitchell.
Brandon John Rainey (28), formerly of James Street, Ballymena, appeared at Belfast Crown Court via video link from Maghaberry Prison on Tuesday.
He is currently in custody and charged with the murder of 21-year-old Chloe Mitchell in Ballymena on June 3, 2023, and attempting to prevent the lawful burial of her body.
More than 50 members of Chloe's family and friends, many wearing blue sweatshirts and white T-shirts and chanting “Justice for Chloe,” crowded the Court 13 gallery.
Defense lawyer Neil Connor KC told Mr Justice O'Hara that he had obtained a second psychiatric report on the defendant.
“Having been allowed more time for a second psychiatric report to be prepared, it has been received and is not considered reliable,” Mr Connor said.
“I did not have the opportunity to discuss the contents of the second psychiatric report with Mr Rainey. We booked to see him in Maghaberry tomorrow at 2pm, which was the earliest appointment we could get.
“The situation is that we are now in your Lordship’s hands to initiate a trial.”
Mr. Justice O'Hara has scheduled the hearing for Monday, April 28, 2025.
Rainey was remanded back into custody to await the start of his trial.
Earlier this month, an application for Rainey to be released on bail was dismissed by Mr Justice O'Hara because he wanted to attend his mother's funeral in Ballymena.
The court heard that a person put forward as a “suitable surety” for Rainey is currently on bail at Craigavon Magistrates' Court.
These conditions banned him from entering Ballymena and his application to vary these conditions was refused by a district judge, meaning the bail “could not be enforced”.
During the trial in September this year, the court heard that Rainey had been examined in prison by a psychiatrist for his mental health problems dating back to childhood.
Mr Connor told these proceedings that Rainey had been in contact with various mental health services since he was seven years old.
He added that the defense would not rely on the contents of the psychiatrist's report and would seek a face-to-face meeting with his client to “find a way forward” in the case.
Chloe Mitchell's remains were found days after she disappeared.
She was seen alive on CCTV in Ballymena town center in the early hours of June 3, 2023 and an extensive search operation was carried out.
Detectives investigating her disappearance later launched a murder investigation after human remains were discovered in the Co Antrim town.
This led officers to attend an apartment in the James Street neighborhood, which led to Rainey's arrest.
