A trial date for Brandon Rainey, accused of murdering 21-year-old Chloe Mitchell in Ballymena, is expected to be fixed at a hearing in September. The case was reviewed at Belfast Crown Court on Friday, where legal teams discussed ongoing psychiatric evaluations of the defendant.

Rainey, formerly of James Street in Ballymena, denies murdering Mitchell and preventing the lawful burial of her remains. Mitchell went missing in Ballymena on 3 June 2023 and her remains were found about a week later. A murder inquiry was launched after human remains were discovered in the town.

The case had been due to stand trial in March, but Rainey dismissed his legal representatives after they said they had been professionally compromised and that he no longer wished them to represent him. A new legal team headed by senior defence counsel Des Fahy KC was subsequently instructed.

At Friday's hearing, defence barrister Andrew Moriarty said a psychiatric report on Rainey from Dr Richard Latham was due by the end of August. Senior prosecution counsel David Russell KC said the Crown had instructed a psychologist to examine Rainey, with visits arranged at Maghaberry Prison on 27 and 28 August.

Mr Justice Fowler said the end of August deadline for the defence psychiatric report must be met. He described the case as important and serious and said he wished to have the matter listed for trial as soon as possible, aiming for late October or November.

The prosecution estimated the trial would last between four and five weeks, while the defence suggested it could be shorter. The judge instructed both legal teams to scope out dates for witness availability for a possible trial in October or November.

Chloe Mitchell's family issued a statement on social media after the hearing, saying the prospect of a trial date was a significant step forward and gave them hope. They said they had waited, fought, and stood together through heartbreak, and that they would never stop missing Chloe, but the court development provided some hope for justice.