• Man transferred to specialized facility for strict medical examination
• Court postponed pending psychological assessment results

A young man accused of killing his mother was transferred to a high-security government hospital for mental health in the South Lanarkshire area of Scotland, in preparation for a specialized medical evaluation.

Nathan Simpson faces a charge of killing his mother, Rachel Simpson (43), from East Belfast, after her body was found inside a garage adjacent to a property on Castlereagh Street on 13 September 2024.

It was reported that the accused, aged 22, was transferred in early December to Carstairs government hospital for a medical evaluation, as part of official procedures aimed at determining his health condition.

During a session held by Belfast Magistrates Court on Friday, the prosecution stated that an extended evaluation period has begun, prior to reaching any final diagnosis, while the defense lawyer indicated that this process may take several months.

Carstairs hospital is the only high-security facility specializing in mental health serving Scotland and Northern Ireland, and it is one of four similar hospitals across the United Kingdom.

The court hearings in the case are scheduled to resume on 30 January 2026.