Trial for man accused of Chloe Mitchell murder to begin in November

A new trial date has been set for a man accused of murdering Chloe Mitchell in Ballymena.

Brandon Rainey, formerly of James Street in the town, denies murdering the 21-year-old on 3 June 2023 and preventing the lawful burial of her remains.

The judge set a new trial date for 3 November at Belfast Crown Court on Thursday.

The court was told a Crown medical expert would have two more meetings with Rainey, 30, during September before completing her report.

The judge said the report should be finished by the middle of October at the latest to allow the trial to go ahead as planned on 3 November.

Rainey remains on remand at HMP Maghaberry.

Rainey had been due to stand trial in March 2026 but his previous legal team walked away from the case stating that they had been "professionally compromised'' and said the defendant had told them that he no longer wished them to represent him.

A new legal team headed up by senior defence counsel Des Fahy KC, instructed by Phoenix Law, came on record a few weeks later.

The case has been listed for a further review on 18 September.

Chloe Mitchell's remains were found days after she went missing.

The 21-year-old was last seen alive on CCTV in Ballymena town centre in the early hours of 3 June 2023 and an extensive search operation was launched by the PSNI.

Detectives investigating her disappearance later launched a murder inquiry after human remains were discovered in the County Antrim town.

This led officers to attend a flat in the James Street area of the town, which prompted Rainey's arrest.