The legal team for Brandon John Rainey withdrew from his murder case at Belfast Crown Court on Thursday. Rainey, 29, from James Street in Ballymena, County Antrim, faces charges of murdering 21-year-old Chloe Mitchell and preventing the lawful burial of her remains between June 2 and 5, 2023.

Senior counsel Neil Connor KC, junior Neil Moore, and solicitors James Ballentine & Sons applied to withdraw. Connor told Madam Justice McBride the team was professionally compromised. He added that Rainey stated during a morning consultation that he no longer wanted their representation, leading to an irretrievable breakdown in the client-lawyer relationship.

Connor noted Rainey had recent contact with another solicitors' firm over several days without his team's knowledge. That firm informed Connor's junior they would not accept instructions.

Madam Justice McBride approved the withdrawal. She called it an unfortunate development but accepted the grounds of professional compromise and relationship breakdown. The case was one exempted to proceed amid the Criminal Bar Association's service withdrawal in Northern Ireland.

The judge scheduled a review for Monday, March 16, 2026, to allow Rainey time to secure new representation. She directed the former team to prepare all papers for handover. Prosecutor David Russell KC agreed Rainey should appear in person next Monday with any new team.

Rainey appeared from Maghaberry Prison, escorted by prison officers. Chloe Mitchell's mother Georgina left the courtroom as he entered the dock. Public gallery members shouted insults at Rainey as he exited in handcuffs; police and security then escorted them out.

Mitchell was last seen on CCTV in Ballymena town centre in the early hours of June 3, 2023. Police launched searches after her disappearance. Her remains were found eight days later in County Antrim, prompting a murder inquiry and Rainey's arrest at a James Street flat.