Family of Chloe Mitchell welcome judge’s push for murder trial to be listed

By Claudia Savage, Press Association

The family of Chloe Mitchell have welcomed a judge’s statement that he wants the trial of a man accused of murdering the Co Antrim woman to be listed “as soon as possible”.

In a statement, Mitchell’s family described it as a “big step forward”.

A barrister told Belfast Crown Court that the trial is expected to take four to five weeks.

The case was mentioned on Friday, where legal teams discussed ongoing psychiatric evaluations of the accused, Brandon John Rainey.

Mitchell, 21, was found dead in Ballymena, Co Antrim, days after going missing in June 2023.

Rainey, 29, formerly of James Street in Ballymena, has been charged with murdering Mitchell and attempting to prevent the burial of her body.

He pleaded not guilty to those charges at a hearing in 2024.

Proceedings in the case had already been delayed in March this year when Rainey parted company with his legal representatives.

He subsequently secured different representation.

Explain to (the expert) that this is an important case, and the judge wishes to have this matter listed for trial as soon as possible

A defence barrister told the court on Friday that a psychiatric report on Rainey was under way and was anticipated to be finished by the end of the month.

He also said that a second report may be required.

Prosecuting barrister David Russell KC said the prosecution had also commissioned a psychological expert to examine Rainey and asked for confirmation that he would agree to undergo this evaluation.

He said that the prosecution would need to see the defence’s psychiatric assessment of Rainey.

The judge in the case, Mr Justice Fowler, said the potential of a second assessment was a “little bit problematic if one wants to get this case done quickly, which is my desire”.

The defence barrister said receiving the first assessment would “put a spotlight” on whether the second would be necessary.

Judge Fowler said he was “not going to speculate” on the outcome of that, and asked the defence to remind the expert that this “case is pressing, and the judge will expect that deadline to be met on the report”.

He added: “Explain to them that this is an important case, and the judge wishes to have this matter listed for trial as soon as possible.”

Mr Russell estimated that the trial would take four to five weeks, and the defence barrister said he felt it would be “shorter than that”.

The judge instructed both legal teams to scope out dates for witness availability for a trial in October or November.

The court will sit again on September 13th, at which point the judge said he hoped to fix a date for trial.

In a statement on social media, Mitchell’s family said: “Knowing that we are moving closer to a trial and closer to seeing justice for Chloe means more than words can explain”.

The statement added: “So today, we left court with a smile on our faces. Not because any of this is easy, it isn’t, but because we are finally moving forward.

“We will never stop missing Chloe, and nothing will ever take away the pain of losing her.

“But today gave us a little more hope that the day will come for justice for Chloe.”