Cops charged with breaching DRMA

The trial involving four police officers, one of whom is murder-accused Constable Noel Maitland, who are accused of breaching the curfew order under the Disaster Risk Management Act, failed to get under way yesterday in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court.

"Today the judge had a lot of part-heard trial matters that she had to continue so they were unable to start. The court list was unable to accommodate the matter today," attorney-at-law Luke Cook told the news team.

The men: Kevoner Charley, Maitland, Corwyn Moodie, Ajani Willoughby and former cop Dumar Ducally are accused of attending an illegal party on April 21, 2021. Cook was holding on behalf of Able-Don Foote, who represents Maitland and Charley. The other accused are represented by Christopher Townsend.

It was alleged that about 8:20 p.m., police attached to the St Andrew North division received information about an illegal party at a car mart along Constant Spring Road. The police arrived at the location and locked the doors of the venue, preventing patrons from leaving the compound. Allegations are that the four lawmen went to the gate and indicated that they were at the premises for various reasons.

Charley, Maitland, Moodie and Willoughby argue that they were on duty when they were arrested and charged. The matter was adjourned until December 7.

In the meantime, Maitland, who is charged with the murder of social media personality Donna-Lee Donaldson, is to return to court on September 16, when it is expected that the prosecution will make more disclosure available to the defence. Maitland has been in custody since his arrest on July 27. Donaldson was last seen at his New Kingston apartment on July 11.

She was reported missing on July 13.