Man accused of mum's murder transferred to psychiatric hospital
PSNI handoutA man charged with the murder of his mother has been transferred to a high-security state psychiatric hospital in South Lanarkshire.
Nathan Simpson is accused of killing 43-year-old Rachel Simpson from east Belfast.
Ms Simpson was discovered in a garage beside a property on the Castlereagh Road on 13 September 2024.
The 22-year-old was transferred for medical assessment at the State Hospital in Carstairs at the beginning of December.
During a hearing at Belfast Magistrates' Court on Friday, it was heard a significant assessment period is under way before a diagnosis can be made.
Legal representation for Mr Simpson said it could take a number of months.
The State Hospital is the only high-security psychiatric hospital covering Scotland and Northern Ireland.
It is one of four such hospitals in the UK.
The case will be heard again on 30 January 2026.