Constable Noel Maitland on Tuesday took the witness stand at the Home Circuit Court, where he alleged that blood found inside his apartment was the result of a miscarriage, not a violent act.
Maitland, who is charged with murder and preventing the lawful burial of a corpse, used an unsworn statement from the prisoner’s dock to directly address the seven-member jury, maintaining his innocence in the disappearance and presumed death of his girlfriend, Donna-Lee Donaldson.
The court had been scheduled to hear testimony from character witnesses; however, proceedings shifted as Maitland took centre stage to outline his version of events. Donaldson was last seen at Maitland’s Chelsea Manor residence on July 12, 2022, shortly before she went missing.
A significant portion of Maitland’s statement focused on forensic evidence collected from his apartment. He argued that investigators did not uncover large quantities of blood and insisted that the small traces detected were inconsistent with claims of a violent killing. According to Maitland, the blood likely resulted from a miscarriage, noting that Donaldson allegedly experienced multiple miscarriages during their relationship, including one that he said occurred at his home.
Maitland also emphasized his cooperation with police throughout the investigation. He told jurors that he never denied officers access to his residence or vehicle and claimed that he even assisted investigators in securing his baby mother’s car after she initially declined to release it.
Addressing testimony surrounding a couch removed from his apartment, Maitland said plans to have the furniture cleaned were made well before Donaldson disappeared. He firmly rejected claims by a former carwash employee who testified that she observed what appeared to be blood on the couch.
Calling the witness dishonest, Maitland said inconsistencies in her account undermined her credibility.
He further stated that no blood was found on the couch, the truck used to transport it, or the rug in his living room. Maitland questioned why the couch became a focal point of the case, noting that it was cleaned at a public carwash surrounded by businesses and security cameras.
Maitland also addressed recorded telephone conversations between himself and the truck driver who transported the couch. While acknowledging that he was unaware the calls were being recorded, he argued that the conversations supported his case, as they showed him encouraging cooperation with police.
Finally, he denied claims made by a neighbour who testified that Maitland asked him to delete CCTV footage. Maitland dismissed the allegation, stating that he and the neighbour had a strained relationship marked by frequent disputes.
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