“Never, ever,” Maitland denies killing Donna-Lee

"I would never kill her." Those were the words of Constable Noel Maitland as he denied murdering his girlfriend, social media influencer Donna-Lee Donaldson, during his trial in the Home Circuit Court on Tuesday.

Maitland, who is on trial for murder and preventing the lawful burial of a corpse, made the declaration in a rushed unsworn statement before a seven member jury.

"I don't have any thoughts of hurting Donna Lee. And I will never, ever, kill Donna-Lee," Maitland told the court.

The policeman said he and Donaldson had multiple arguments during their three year relationship, mainly over the mother of his child. He told the court that he would often ignore her during those disagreements.

"We have argued about this many times. It has not been physical. It has never, ever been physical," he said.

Maitland told the court that their final argument was triggered by repeated calls from the mother of his child and by a photograph of a woman hanging on the wall.

According to Maitland, after that last dispute on July 12, 2022, he went to sleep and was later awakened by Donaldson, who told him she was leaving.

"She woke me up, and she left... the Tuesday. I haven't seen Donna-Lee from that day," he said.

During his unsworn statement, Maitland also insisted that he fully cooperated with the police.

An unsworn statement is a formal declaration by a defendant that provides their version of events without taking an oath or affirmation and is not subject to cross examination.

Donaldson, 24, an entrepreneur, was reported missing on July 13, 2022.

Her mother testified that she last saw her daughter alive on July 11, 2022, when Maitland picked her up from her home in St Andrew. She also told the court that she spoke with Donaldson on the morning of July 12.

The trial, which began in May 2025, continues.

- Tanesha Mundle

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