The Police High Command has revealed that Constable Noel Maitland has been charged for the death of his girlfriend 23-year-old Donna-Lee Donaldson. Donaldson was reported missing on Wednesday, July 13. The revelation was made during a Jamaica Constabulary Force’s (JCF) Monthly Press briefing that was held at the Office of the Commissioner of Police in Kingston on Tuesday, August 2.
During the press briefing, Commissioner of Police, Major General Antony Anderson said, “We are mindful of the sensitivities of this particular case, as the person at the centre of the investigation is a Police Officer.” He reassured members of the public that, “the investigative team has received the highest level of oversight from the Deputy Commissioner in charge of our Crime & Security Portfolio and senior detectives assigned to the CIB Headquarters.” The investigation is also benefitting from the input of other agencies, including INDECOM, the Institute of Forensic Science & Legal Medicine – IFSLM and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
A timeline of the investigation was also provided during the press briefing. Deputy Commissioner of Police Fitz Bailey explained that Donaldson was reported missing on Wednesday, July 13. He said between July 13 and July 17, several interviews were conducted and statements recorded. Various pieces of evidence were collected and secured, hospitals and several premises were visited and checked and the family was updated on the efforts being made by the Police. Constable Maitland’s home was also visited and processed by JCF Forensic teams.
He explained further that on July 18, a case review was conducted. A press briefing was convened at the Offices of the Commissioner of Police. Between July 18 and July 24, additional persons were interviewed and statements were recorded. Other evidential materials were also secured and processed. On July 25, a divisional case review was held.
The police continued their probe with a third case review on the 26th of July. During this review, the Jamaica Constabulary Force met with the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and senior prosecutors from her office as well as personnel from INDECOM. On July 27, Maitland was taken into police custody and a press statement was issued. He was taken before the court and remanded on July 29.
After providing the detailed update, Deputy Commissioner of Police Fitz Bailey then explained, “What I can report at this time is that Maitland was this afternoon charged with the murder of 23-year-old Donna- Lee Donaldson.”
Maitland was charged after 20 days of diligent and comprehensive investigation by detectives. The case began as a missing person’s investigation but subsequently became a murder probe given the evidence that was being collected.
