A CO Antrim man is to stand trial next year for the murder of Chloe Mitchell.
Brandon John Rainey (28), formerly of James Street in Ballymena, appeared at Belfast Crown Court on Tuesday video link from Maghaberry Prison.
He is currently on remand charged with murdering 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 calling for ‘Justice For Chloe’, packed the public gallery of Court 13.
Defence counsel Neil Connor KC told Mr Justice O’Hara that he had received a second psychiatric report on the defendant.
“Following further time being allowed for the preparation of a second psychiatric report, it has been received and it is not being relied upon,’’ said Mr Connor.
“I haven’t had an opportunity to discuss the contents of the second psychiatric report with Mr Rainey. We are booked in to see him tomorrow in Maghaberry at 2 pm which was the earliest date we could get.
“The position is that we are in Your Lordship’s hands now for the fixing of a trial.’’
Mr Justice O’Hara fixed the trial for Monday, April 28, 2025.
Rainey was remanded back into custody to await the start of his trial.
Earlier this month Rainey had a compassionate bail application dismissed by Mr Justice O’Hara to attend his mother’s funeral in Ballymena.
The court heard that a person who was put forward as a “suitable surety’' for Rainey was currently on bail conditions from Craigavon Magistrates’ Court.
Those conditions prohibit him from entering Ballymena and his application to vary those conditions were refused by a district judge which meant the bail “could not be perfected’'.
During proceedings in September this year, the court heard Rainey had been examined by a psychiatrist in prison over his mental health problems dating back to childhood.
Mr Connor told those proceedings that Rainey has had contact with various mental health services since the age of seven.
He added that the defence would not be relying on the contents of the psychiatrist’s report and would be seeking a face-to-face meeting with his client to “formulate a way forward’' in the case.
Chloe Mitchell’s remains were found days after she went missing.
She was seen alive on CCTV in Ballymena town centre in the early hours of June 3, 2023 and an extensive search operation was conducted.
Detectives investigating her disappearance later launched a murder investigation after human remains were discovered in the Co Antrim town.
This led officers to attend a flat in the James Street area of the town, which prompted Rainey’s arrest.