DPP Says Evidence Points Squarely to Former Constable Maitland in Donna-Lee Donaldson Case

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Claudette Thompson, told the jury in the murder trial of former police constable Noel Maitland that the evidence presented by the Crown forms a complete and consistent picture implicating him in the disappearance and alleged killing of social media personality Donna-Lee Donaldson.

Maitland, who is also charged with the unlawful burial of Donaldson’s body, has maintained that the body has never been recovered. In her closing address in the Supreme Court on Monday, Thompson urged jurors to consider Maitland’s actions as part of a deliberate effort to mislead investigators.

Thompson drew on scripture from Proverbs 6:16-19, highlighting traits the Bible describes as detestable, including lying, violence, and deceit. She urged jurors to evaluate Maitland’s conduct through this lens, asserting that his behaviour after Donaldson went missing showed a pattern of denial and diversion.

The DPP said Maitland attempted to shift suspicion by directing attention to others, including the neighbour he claimed he did not like. She also referenced his repeated mention of his child’s mother, Kathy-Anna Smith, in his police statement—an assertion she said was introduced by the defence and used to deflect responsibility.

Thompson told the jury that investigators found no evidence linking Smith to the disappearance, noting she was not seen at Donaldson’s home, the car wash, or involved in any related activity. She added that Smith was not charged because police found no basis to do so.

The DPP also pointed to Maitland’s own statement, which she said introduced a possible motive tied to his relationship with Smith. She highlighted evidence that Smith called Maitland repeatedly on the morning of July 12, suggesting the call pattern indicated a personal conflict.

Addressing the defence’s challenge that no blood was found at the car wash where the Crown alleges Maitland washed a settee, Thompson argued that the scene had been cleaned and that the police only visited the location on July 20—seven days after the incident. She said the area had been heavily washed with water, vinegar, and degreaser, and noted that no one disputed this cleaning process.

Thompson also questioned why Maitland did not disclose to police that he had taken the couch for washing, saying that this omission was consistent with the Crown’s case that blood was present at the scene but removed before investigators arrived.

In her closing remarks, Thompson urged jurors to consider unresolved questions, including the whereabouts of the long couch and Maitland’s missing iPhone. She highlighted that the phone handed over to police was a different device, a “BLU” phone, raising questions about why the original device was not produced.

The DPP further challenged the credibility of character evidence presented by the defence, saying even Maitland’s supervisor appeared unaware of key aspects of his personal life, including his relationship with Donaldson and his status as a father.

Thompson told jurors that Maitland failed to act in the manner expected of a police officer when his girlfriend disappeared and insisted that the Crown’s evidence formed a complete picture, with no missing pieces.

She concluded by asking the jury to deliver a verdict that reflects the evidence they heard and the exhibits they reviewed.

The defence is scheduled to deliver its closing arguments on Tuesday morning at 10 a.m.