This article contains details that some may find distressing

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

At Belfast Crown Court on Wednesday morning the prosecution opened its case against Rainey.

Crown barrister David Russell KC told the jury it was the prosecution's case that Mitchell and Rainey had been in "an on-off relationship" and that he killed her in the early hours of 3 June, sometime between 00:36 and 05:18 BST.

"We say a wealth of evidence will show beyond reasonable doubt that the accused murdered her and disposed of her body in a way that prevented her burial," Russell said.

Jurors were told Mitchell had significant addiction issues and was last seen alive by two of her friends in the company of Rainey in his flat in James Street shortly before her death.

The court also heard that one of her friends later told police that Rainey had made a comment while they were at his flat that he would "love to chop someone up and melt them in the bath" but then claimed he was joking.

When Mitchell was discovered to be missing, one of those friends contacted Rainey, who told her Mitchell had only stayed about 15 minutes and left after an argument "to go to Belfast to see some fella," the court was told.

Extensive searches were launched by police to try to find Mitchell.

Her dismembered remains were found by a police officer on 11 June in two bins in James Street.

A post-mortem examination of her remains concluded that she had died as a result of blunt force trauma to the head, possible gagging, and stab wounds to the chest.

Forensic investigations of Rainey's flat found Mitchell's blood in several areas of the property.

The prosecution said when Rainey was arrested and interviewed by police he denied any involvement in Mitchell's death or the disposal of her body.

Russell said he had "lied repeatedly and in a determined fashion" to investigating officers.

Rainey sat in the dock in a grey tracksuit throughout the proceedings.

David Russell KC told the court Mitchell had suffered "a cruel and brutal death" at Rainey's hands.

"She had been the victim of a sustained assault with weapons whilst alive and then mutilated and dismembered in death," he said.

"We say when you stand back and hear all the evidence in this case you will be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that Brandon Rainey murdered Chloe Mitchell."

The trial continues.