After more than three years of anguish, uncertainty, and national attention, the Jamaican justice system reached a decisive moment in one of the country’s most closely watched criminal cases. On Wednesday afternoon, Police Constable Noel Maitland was found guilty of the murder of his girlfriend, Donna-Lee Donaldson, a 24-year-old social media influencer, call centre employee, and aspiring entrepreneur who disappeared in July 2022.
The verdict was delivered in the Home Circuit Court following more than eight months of trial proceedings and over three hours of jury deliberation. Maitland was also convicted of preventing the lawful burial of a corpse, a charge tied directly to the fact that Donaldson’s body has never been recovered.
As the guilty verdict was read, Maitland broke down in tears and was immediately taken back into custody. He is scheduled to be sentenced on March 13.
A Disappearance That Shook the Nation
Donna-Lee Donaldson was reported missing on July 11, 2022. She was last seen at the Chelsea Manor Apartments in St Andrew, where Maitland resided. From the outset, her disappearance captured national attention, driven by her visible online presence, her young age, and the troubling circumstances surrounding her relationship with a serving police officer.
Despite extensive searches and investigations, Donaldson’s body was never found. The absence of physical remains would later become one of the central challenges in the prosecution’s case.
The Prosecution’s Case: Circumstantial but Compelling
The Crown’s case relied heavily on circumstantial evidence, arguing that while no single piece of evidence proved guilt on its own, the totality of the evidence formed what prosecutors described as an “unbroken chain” pointing exclusively to Maitland.
Among the key elements presented to the jury were:
- Blood evidence recovered from Maitland’s apartment, which forensic experts testified was consistent with violent trauma.
- Evidence that furniture and household items were removed and disposed of shortly after Donaldson was last seen, suggesting a deliberate effort to eliminate traces of a crime.
- Mobile phone data and call records tracking Maitland’s movements and communications in the hours and days following Donaldson’s disappearance.
- Testimony indicating calculated behaviour, including alleged attempts to mislead investigators and members of Donaldson’s family.
Prosecutors argued that these actions, taken together, demonstrated consciousness of guilt and an intentional effort to conceal both the crime and the victim’s remains.
The Judge’s Direction to the Jury
Trial Judge Leighton Pusey played a central role in guiding the jury through the legal complexities of the case. In his summation, he stressed that the jury had to be satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that Donna-Lee Donaldson was dead, that a body existed, and that Maitland took deliberate steps to prevent its lawful burial.
Judge Pusey instructed the seven-member jury to place their phones in sealed envelopes before retiring to deliberate, underscoring the seriousness of the moment and the need for impartiality.
The Defence’s Argument
The defence maintained throughout the trial that the prosecution’s case was speculative and incomplete. Attorneys for Maitland argued that the absence of a body and the reliance on circumstantial evidence left room for reasonable doubt. They urged the jury to reject what they characterized as assumptions rather than proof.
In an unsworn statement from the dock, Maitland denied killing Donaldson. He told the court that he loved her and insisted he had no reason to cause her harm.
The jury ultimately rejected this account.
A Verdict Without Closure
While the guilty verdict represents a major legal conclusion, the case remains emotionally unresolved. Donna-Lee Donaldson’s body has never been found, denying her family the opportunity for burial and full closure.
The conviction sends a powerful message about accountability, particularly within the ranks of law enforcement, but it also highlights the painful reality that justice does not always come with answers to every question.
As sentencing approaches, the case stands as a sobering reminder of the enduring impact of gender-based violence, the limits of circumstantial evidence, and the resilience of a legal system tasked with delivering justice even when the most critical piece of evidence—a body—is absent.
Donna-Lee Donaldson’s name now joins a solemn list of victims whose stories continue to shape national conversations about safety, trust, and accountability in Jamaica.