Police find remains in bins during Chloe Mitchell inquiry

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 9 Nov, 14:58 · Archive

Police discovered the remains of 21-year-old Chloe Mitchell in household bins in Ballymena during door-to-door inquiries.

The remains of 21-year-old Chloe Mitchell were discovered in household bins in the James Street area of Ballymena, County Antrim, on 11 June 2023. A police officer conducting door-to-door inquiries found them after a householder apologised for a smell coming from her bin.

The officer described opening the bin and finding an 'overwhelming stench' with maggots falling out, saying he 'struggled not to throw up'. The bins had not been collected since 3 June and were due to be emptied. Using CCTV footage showing a figure walking back and forth in the area, the officer was able to identify a second bin, which also contained human remains and was surrounded by flies.

Brandon Rainey, aged 30 and formerly of James Street in Ballymena, denies murdering Mitchell and preventing the lawful burial of her remains. According to the Crown's case, Rainey murdered Mitchell in his flat in the early hours of 3 June and disposed of her body in two wheelie bins belonging to neighbouring residents. The charge of murder is aggravated by reason of involving domestic abuse.

At Belfast Crown Court on Monday, a witness statement was read in which someone who attended a barbecue with Rainey in the days before Mitchell went missing said they overheard him ask his mother: 'Would you still love me if I dismembered 50 people and hid their parts?' The court was also shown interior photographs of Rainey's flat taken after Mitchell went missing.

Rainey is currently held at HMP Maghaberry and has also denied a charge of attempting to prevent the lawful and decent burial of a deceased body.

How it is being reported

• Chloe Mitchell trial hears PSNI officer's account of discovering suspected human remains in binsWarning: Contains information some readers may find upsettingBelfast Live · 9 Nov, 14:33
• Officer recalls discovering suspected human remains during search for Chloe MitchellWarning: Court report contains graphic detailsBelfast Telegraph · 9 Nov, 14:25
• Chloe Mitchell murder trial hears how police discovered remainsA householder's apology over a smell from her bin led officers to find Chloe Mitchell's remains.BBC Northern Ireland · 9 Nov, 13:46

In this story: Chloe Mitchell · Brandon Rainey · Ballymena · County Antrim · Belfast Crown Court · PSNI

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