This article contains distressing details

A court has heard how the remains of 21-year-old Chloe Mitchell were discovered in Ballymena, County Antrim, after a householder apologised to a police officer for a smell coming from her bin.

Chloe Mitchell died in June 2023.

Brandon Rainey (30), formerly of James Street, Ballymena, denies murdering her and preventing the lawful burial of her remains.

Giving evidence at Belfast Crown Court on Monday, a then police constable said he discovered human remains in household bins while conducting door-to-door inquiries on 11 June that year.

During these inquiries, in the James Street area of the town, the police officer described smelling something "putrid".

When he opened the bin he described an "overwhelming stench" and maggots had fallen out.

He told the court, he "struggled not to throw up".

Given his suspicions surrounding the case, and CCTV he had previously seen, he said was concerned the bin contained human remains.

The footage had shown a figure walking back and forth in the area.

By retracing those steps, the officer said he was able to identify another bin he suspected had further remains.

It contained flies and was also found to contain human remains.

In a statement read to the court, a resident of James Street had said she had noticed a strange smell coming from her black bin but "didn't think anything of it".

She said she had checked inside and saw bin liners tied in a similar way to her own.

In an attempt to handle the smell, she had poured bleach into the bin.

A witness statement from person who attended a barbecue with Brandon Rainey in the days before Chloe Mitchell went missing was also read in court on Monday.

The court was told the witness said they had overheard Brandon Rainey ask his mother: "Would you still love me if I dismembered 50 people and hid their parts?"

The jury was also shown interior pictures of Brandon Rainey's flat on James Street which were taken after Chloe Mitchell went missing.

A number of knives were found, blood was identified in multiple places around the home including the living room, bedroom and hallway, and an area of burnt debris outside.

3. 'Putrid' smell from bins

On Monday afternoon, an expert witness in biology and forensic science told the court that blood stains, smears and spatters throughout the flat matched the DNA of Chloe Mitchell.

They were identified in the living room, bedroom, bathroom, on the outside meter box and doorframe.

A mixed DNA profile was obtained on a hammer, but Chloe Mitchell was not excluded as a possible contributor.

The expert noted blood found on two knives which were also examined did not match the DNA of Chloe Mitchell.

The defence told the court the expert is limited in assessing how the samples appeared in their positions, or when the blood or DNA was deposited.