Jury finds Constable Noel Maitland guilty

Police Constable Noel Maitland was today found guilty in connection with the death of his girlfriend, 24 year old social media influencer and entrepreneur Donna Lee Donaldson.

The jury in the Home Circuit Court deliberated for more than three hours before returning its verdict this afternoon.

Maitland had been charged with murder and preventing the lawful burial of a corpse.

He was immediately taken back into custody following the ruling and is to be sentenced on March 13.

Donaldson has been missing since July 11, 2022, and her body has never been recovered.

During the trial, prosecutors relied heavily on circumstantial evidence, arguing that it formed an unbroken chain pointing to Maitland as the only person who could have caused Donaldson's death.

Crown counsel highlighted blood evidence recovered from Maitland's apartment at Chelsea Manor in St Andrew, the removal and disposal of furniture, and phone records tracking Maitland's movements and communications after Donaldson disappeared.

The prosecution also pointed to what it described as Maitland's behaviour in the days following her disappearance, including attempts to mislead investigators and members of her family.

The defence maintained that the case was based on speculation and urged the jury to reject what it described as unreliable and incomplete evidence.

In an unsworn statement from the dock, Maitland denied killing Donaldson, telling the court that he loved her and had no reason to harm her.

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