KINGSTON, Jamaica — After greater than a month-long break to handle administrative issues, the homicide trial of Constable Noel Maitland resumed on Monday within the Residence Circuit Courtroom in downtown Kingston, with against the law scene investigator from the Unbiased Fee of Investigations (INDECOM) persevering with his testimony.
The investigator recounted his go to to Maitland’s Chelsea Manor house in St Andrew in July 2022, the place he looked for proof following the disappearance of Maitland’s girlfriend, 24-year-old social media influencer and entrepreneur Donna-Lee Donaldson. She was final seen alive on the house complicated the place the policeman resided.
Utilizing circumstantial proof, detectives concluded that Donaldson was useless. Maitland was subsequently charged with homicide and stopping the lawful burial of a corpse.
Throughout examination-in-chief by the prosecution, the investigator detailed for the seven-member jury how he collected, packaged, and saved key proof from Maitland’s house. Among the many gadgets he retrieved have been curtain drapes with a number of stains resembling blood and a cream pillow cushion.
He additionally described accumulating a toothbrush belonging to Donaldson from her mom’s St Andrew residence for DNA evaluation.
“I collected the bundle [the brown curtain] and positioned it in storage in our exhibit room at INDECOM headquarters in Kingston. At the moment, I alone had entry to that room. I introduced it right here to courtroom intact and unopened,” he informed the courtroom.
He additional defined, “Once I delivered the [cream pillow cushion] to the Institute of Forensic Science and Authorized Medication, it was in the identical situation. On July 11, 2024, I took it from the lab, returned it to INDECOM, and saved it within the exhibit room. I final noticed it this morning. The bundle is undamaged and unopened.”
Relating to the toothbrush, he said, “I wrapped it in sterile paper and took it to the Institute of Forensic Science and Authorized Medication. I final noticed it on July 11, 2024. It was intact and sealed. It was handed over to INDECOM by Miss Sophia Lugg, the mom of Donna-Lee Donaldson.”
The investigator was additionally requested to establish images of cameras put in on the house complicated and the instructions they confronted.
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He’s anticipated to return to the witness stand right this moment, the place he will likely be proven images of the inside of Maitland’s house to establish the curtains he beforehand famous had what gave the impression to be bloodstains.
