Prosecutors urge verdict that ‘aligns with evidence’

Prosecutors recounted yesterday how the policeman accused of killing popular social media personality Donna-Lee Donaldson “put on a performance” while she was still only a missing person, before asking jurors to return a verdict that “aligns with the evidence”.

The assertion came as the prosecution made their final pitch to the seven-member jury in the closely watched eight-month trial of Constable Noel Maitland on charges of murder and preventing the lawful burial of a corpse.

Citing the testimony of one of Donaldson’s close friends, the lead prosecutor recounted how Maitland “put dung a piece of cow bawlin” when the pal “simply called him and asked about Donna-Lee”.

“What was he bawlin’ about so early in the matter? What is it that he knew that the rest of us don’t know? Could it be that he knew something that the rest of us don’t know?” the prosecutor questioned.

“What is interesting is, him put dung di bawlin’ with [witness name redacted], but you no hear ‘bout no crying when him a talk to mom,” the prosecutor added, making reference to Sophia Lugg, Donaldson’s mother.

LAST CONTACT

Lugg testified that she last saw her daughter alive on July 11, 2022 when Maitland picked up Donaldson from their St Andrew home.

She also spoke to Donaldson by telephone on the morning of July 12, according to her testimony.

Donaldson, who was also an entrepreneur, was reported missing on July 13.

Citing Maitland’s phone records, the lead prosecutor noted that the policeman made more than 100 telephone calls in the days after Donaldson was discovered missing, but only three to her cell phone.

He made 22 calls on July 12, one of which was to Donaldson’s phone about 7:11 p.m. that day, according to the evidence.

“He made 22 calls, not from the banger (outdated cell phone) his father handed over to the police, [but] from the iPhone that none of us has seen,” said the lead prosecutor.

“The iPhone grew legs and the iPhone has disappeared.”

The following day, the prosecutor noted, Maitland made 63 calls, including two to Donaldson’s phone in less than a minute.

“Noel no waste no time a call har because him know what him know,” the prosecutor told the seven-member jury.

The prosecutor said while Lugg was upset about her daughter’s disappearance, Donaldson’s police boyfriend was “busy getting rid of a settee” that was taken from his apartment with blood stains matching hers.

“While other people were concerned about where Donna-Lee was, Mr Maitland was washing his car and the settee,” the prosecutor said.

According to the lead prosecutor, Maitland’s strategy has been to “deny, deflect and dismiss” any responsibility for Donaldson’s disappearance.

Part of that strategy is to point fingers at “everybody else”, the prosecutor said, urging jurors to ask themselves: where is the iPhone he used to make the calls and a settee that is missing from his home?

“I ask that you return a verdict that is true and just and aligns with the evidence that you have heard over these eight months.”

Maitland’s attorneys will make their closing arguments to the jury today.

livern.barrett@gleanerjm.com