Maitland Says He Tried to End Relationship Before Donna-Lee Vanished, Jury Hears

McKoys News | 2025-12-02 | Original Article

The trial of Constable Noel Maitland heated up on Monday as jurors heard a recorded statement he gave to investigators on July 15, 2022, outlining his version of what happened before Donna-Lee Donaldson vanished.

 

According to the statement, read in court, Maitland said he and Donaldson had an on-and-off relationship since 2019, even while he was still involved with the mother of his child, District Constable Kathanya Smith.

 

Maitland’s statement read in court said:

 

“Donna-Lee Donaldson is my girlfriend. She is 24 years old. She lives with her mother and brother. I have known her since 2019. We had an on-and-off relationship. During the relationship I was also involved with Kathanya Smith. We share a child.

 

Donna-Lee was aware of this but continued the relationship. I drove my BMW to Donna-Lee’s house where I picked her up on July 11, 2022 and she spent the night at my house. She was wearing a black romper… and had a yellow handbag. We talked for a while before retiring to bed.

 

Between 8:00 and 9:00 am on July 12, I prepared breakfast. She saw a picture of Kathanya on the wall and she was not pleased. She always told me to take it down, but I told her I couldn’t. She asked if I was choosing Kathanya over her. I told her I could not continue the relationship because I could not shun her with a child.

 

We talked until I started ignoring her and fell asleep. She woke me up some time in the afternoon and said she was leaving, and she left. I later went outside to get ice cream.

 

Around 7:30 pm I called her phone and got voicemail. I messaged her on WhatsApp and got no response. The next day I called her mother and she said she had not heard from her.”

 

Maitland said he then contacted her brother, a friend, and even a neighbour who reportedly told him she saw Donaldson “standing on the steps” but didn’t see where she went.

 

Donaldson has not been seen since July 12, 2022, and is presumed dead. Prosecutors are relying on circumstantial evidence as Maitland is tried for murder and preventing the lawful burial of a corpse.

 

A detective inspector also testified that he led the investigation into Donaldson’s disappearance. The trial resumes Thursday, when jurors will be shown a controversial settee believed to be key evidence.

 

Maitland is represented by KC Larry Smith, Chadwick Berry, Christopher Townsend, Sanjay Smith, and Kaysian Kennedy-Sherman.