A 21-year-old man has appeared in court in Belfast charged with murdering his mother.

The body of 43-year-old Rachelle Simpson was found in the garage of a property on the Castlereagh Road in the east of the city on Friday.

The accused, 21-year-old Nathan Simpson of the Castlereagh Road in east Belfast, spoke to confirm he understood the charge against him.

No application for bail was made.

A defence lawyer, however, said the case highlighted a broader issue in relation to accommodation for prisoners being released from custody.

He said the defendant had been released from custody days before but attempts to secure accommodation had proven fruitless.

Mr Simpson was remanded in custody to appear in court again on October 14th.

Main image: Laganside Courts in Belfast, 6-2-15. Image: Stephen Barnes/Law and Order / Alamy