The family of Chloe Mitchell, a 21-year-old woman from Ballymena, is facing further uncertainty as they await the outcome of a trial for her alleged murderer, which may be impacted by an ongoing barristers' strike.

Chloe Mitchell's life was cut short in June 2023, when she was killed in an incident that has left her family and community in shock.

Brandon John Rainey, the man accused of her murder, is scheduled to stand trial on February 23, but the proceedings may be delayed due to the industrial action by defence barristers.

Following a recent court hearing to review trial arrangements, Nadine Mitchell, Chloe's sister, expressed her family's distress and frustration, telling BBC News NI that they are struggling to cope with the uncertainty.

Nadine Mitchell stated that her family has been left with no choice but to wait once again for a resolution, having already endured a prolonged period of anxiety and uncertainty.

The family's emotional turmoil is evident, with Nadine describing the experience as a prolonged period of distress, marked by sleepless nights and unbearable tension.

The Mitchell family is struggling to come to terms with their situation, which has left them feeling overwhelmed and distraught.

The current strike by defence barristers in Northern Ireland, which began last month, is a result of a long-standing dispute over legal aid fees, with barristers arguing that their fees have not kept pace with inflation.

The strike has brought almost all criminal trials in Northern Ireland to a standstill, with the exception of cases where the defendant does not require legal aid.

The Mitchell family has appealed for their case to be treated as an exception, allowing the trial to proceed as scheduled.

Chloe Mitchell, who was 21 at the time of her disappearance, was reported missing in early June 2023, prompting an extensive search operation.

Her remains were discovered about a week later, following a series of searches in the Ballymena area.

Brandon John Rainey was subsequently arrested and charged with Chloe's murder, which is alleged to have taken place between June 2 and June 5, 2023.

Rainey also faces a charge of attempting to prevent the lawful burial of a deceased body.

The dispute between barristers and the Department of Justice centres on the level of legal aid fees, which barristers claim have not increased since 2005.

Barristers argue that the fees have not kept pace with inflation, resulting in a significant decrease in their real-terms value over the past 20 years.

The Criminal Bar Association (CBA) has warned that the low fees have created a crisis in the justice system, with many younger barristers refusing to take on legal aid cases due to the low rates of pay.

The CBA has described the strike as a "last resort" in their dispute with the Department of Justice, which has been ongoing for some time.

Despite an announced 16% increase in fees, which is set to take effect in mid-January, the strike has continued, with barristers arguing that the increase does not go far enough to address their concerns.

Chloe's father, George Mitchell, has previously appealed for an exception to be made in their case, allowing the trial to proceed despite the strike.

George Mitchell has argued that any delay to the trial would cause further trauma and distress for the families of victims.

He had invited Justice Minister Naomi Long to meet with him and his wife, Georgina, to discuss the matter further.

However, Minister Long has stated that it is not feasible to allow individual cases to proceed while the dispute over legal aid fees remains unresolved, citing ethical and practical concerns.

The minister has reiterated that the decision to grant exceptions lies with the CBA, which must weigh the competing demands of their members and the needs of the justice system.

Peter Murrell, the former chief executive of the Scottish National Party, is facing allegations of embezzling £459,000 from the party over a 12-year period.

An indictment document obtained by BBC News outlines the case against Murrell, who is the estranged husband of former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

The alleged embezzlement is said to have occurred between August 2010 and January 2023, according to the indictment.

It is claimed that Murrell used party funds to purchase luxury items, including jewellery, cosmetics, and vehicles, such as two cars and a motorhome.

The Scottish Sun was the first to report on the details of the indictment.

A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled to take place at the High Court in Glasgow on Friday, 20 February, where Murrell is expected to appear.

During his initial court appearance at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, Murrell made no plea and was subsequently granted bail.

Murrell's arrest in 2023 was part of Operation Branchform, a police investigation into the SNP's funding and finances, which led to him being charged with embezzlement in April 2024.

Although Sturgeon was questioned by police as part of the investigation, she is no longer considered a suspect.

BBC News has obtained a copy of the indictment against Murrell ahead of his upcoming court appearance.

It is worth noting that the indictment is subject to change until the case is heard in court and may be amended throughout the judicial process.

The indictment alleges that Murrell purchased a £124,550 motorhome for personal use and created false documents to justify the expense as a legitimate party expenditure.

Murrell is also accused of using £57,500 of party funds to buy a Jaguar I-PACE car in 2019, and falsifying an invoice to conceal the true nature of the purchase.

Furthermore, it is alleged that when the Jaguar was sold in 2021, Murrell deposited more than £47,000 into his personal bank account.

The indictment also claims that Murrell embezzled £16,489 from the SNP to partially fund the purchase of a Volkswagen Golf in 2016.

A list of over 80 retailers is included in the indictment, where Murrell allegedly made purchases totalling more than £159,000 between 2014 and 2022, using party credit or charge cards for personal expenses.

The retailers named in the indictment include Harrods, the Royal Mint, John Lewis, Homebase, and Argos, among others.

It is alleged that Murrell used SNP credit or charge cards to make these purchases and then inserted false or inaccurate accounting codes and descriptions into the party's accounting systems.

The indictment also accuses Murrell of making purchases worth over £81,600 through Amazon using the same method.

Murrell served as the SNP's chief executive for 22 years before his departure.

Murrell and Sturgeon were married in 2010, but announced their separation in January 2025, after being together for many years.

A British tourist's brother has expressed outrage over the penalties given to 10 individuals connected to a mass methanol poisoning case, calling them "laughable".

In November 2024, Simone White, 28, was among six people who lost their lives after consuming free shots at the Nana Backpacker Hostel in Vang Vieng, Laos.

The UK government has informed Simone's family that the 10 individuals charged with destroying evidence received suspended sentences and fines of $185 (£135) each, with no further action planned.

Zak White, Simone's brother, shared his concerns with BBC Newsbeat, stating that he doubts they will ever uncover the truth behind the incident or see a suitable punishment.

Simone, a trainee lawyer, and her childhood friend Bethany Clarke had reunited in Laos and spent a night at the hostel, where around 100 guests were offered free shots.

It is believed that these drinks were contaminated with methanol, a toxic substance commonly found in paint thinner, which is sometimes illicitly mixed with alcohol to reduce costs.

The next day, the friends fell ill and were eventually hospitalized, where Simone, from Orpington in south-east London, was placed on life support before passing away.

Since the incident, survivor Bethany and Simone's family have been advocating for increased awareness about the dangers of methanol and seeking answers from Laotian authorities.

A recent update from the UK Foreign Office, shared with relatives and seen by Newsbeat, reveals that 13 suspects were initially arrested in connection with the case.

According to the memo, 10 individuals linked to the Nana Hostel were convicted of destroying evidence.

The owner of the distillery suspected of supplying the methanol is still awaiting trial, as stated in the update.

Bethany, speaking to Newsbeat from Australia, expressed her feelings of "pure frustration" and "anger" upon hearing the news.

The developments suggest that it is unlikely anyone will be held criminally responsible for the deaths and life-altering injuries sustained by other tourists.

"Considering all the families involved, they all desire justice, but it seems they won't get it," Bethany says.

Zak tells Newsbeat that the family had prepared themselves for an unsatisfying conclusion to the case.

"We had a strong indication that justice might not be served," he says.

"The Laotian authorities have been uncooperative throughout the process, failing to provide timely updates or progress."

The Foreign Office stated that Laos' Ministry of Public Security had said the hostel could not reopen until the court proceedings were concluded, although it was unclear if this included the distillery owner's case.

However, Newsbeat discovered that the rebranded Paradise Hostel was listed on Booking.com and Agoda.

The business claimed to be under new ownership, but the Booking.com listing was removed after the platform detected "unusual activity" in its reviews.

A spokesperson stated that the listing was suspended temporarily for violating the platform's terms and conditions.

Agoda is investigating the listing after being contacted by Newsbeat.

Bethany says there are still unanswered questions about the case, including the identities of those charged and the lack of concrete information from Laotian authorities.

"To this day, I still don't know exactly what's happening, despite speaking to several people," she says.

"I'm unsure what these charges entail or who they pertain to. We have no idea what's going on, and the law authorities aren't providing us with any information."

"The communication from the authorities is very limited, leaving us in the dark."

Foreign Office minister Hamish Falconer stated that the UK government "shares the disappointment of the families at this outcome and understands their frustration".

He added that the government has "clearly stated" its expectation of "robust action" from Laos against those who sell tainted alcohol and continues to raise the issue through its embassy.

The Foreign Office has previously expanded its methanol warnings to 27 high-risk countries and collaborated with content creators to raise awareness on social media.

However, both Zak and Bethany believe these efforts should be taken further.

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