Human blood found on drapes in Maitland’s apartment
A government forensic analyst on Thursday confirmed the presence of human blood on drapes recovered from the New Kingston apartment of police constable Noel Maitland.
Testifying as the murder trial surrounding the disappearance of Maitland’s girlfriend, Donna-Lee Donaldson, continued in the Home Circuit Court, the analyst said, “The left drape was positive for human blood.”
She noted that the right drape tested negative.
The court heard that there were six bloodstained marks on the drapes. When asked whether all stains had been tested, the analyst explained that that was not standard procedure.
“For our testing purposes, it is not our protocol to confirm every single stain on an item of evidence. However, for what was confirmed, DNA was received,” she told the court.
The bloodstained drapes were seized from Maitland’s apartment on July 28, 2022 – just over two weeks after 24-year-old Donaldson was reported missing. A cushion with visible bloodstains was also taken from the scene.
Continuing her testimony, the forensic expert said her initial visit to the apartment occurred on July 21, 2022, with a follow-up search planned for July 27. However, that second visit was cut short due to Maitland’s failure to appear. The court previously heard that Maitland was arrested that same day at his attorney’s office in downtown Kingston.
The witness also revealed that the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) had arranged to examine the apartment on July 27, and both teams returned the next day to conduct a more extensive search.
On July 28, investigators examined a fibre barrel and collected several items, including the bloodstained cushion and the drapes. Multiple pairs of shoes were also tested for blood.
The forensic analyst previously testified that based on the evidence collected, it was clear that someone had been injured in Maitland’s apartment in July 2022. Among the items discovered was a bloodstained entrance mat just outside the front door. Investigators also found two kitchen knives hidden in a flower pot on the balcony and two bloodstained left-foot shoes – one a Crocs slipper, the other a Puma sneaker.
Inside the apartment, investigators observed a black suitcase in the living and dining area containing two panties and a size six dress, with a baby carrier placed on top. An air freshener was plugged into a wall near the couch, and its strong scent permeated the space.
Maitland is currently on trial for the murder of Donna-Lee Donaldson and the alleged unlawful disposal of her body.
Donaldson, a 24-year-old social media personlaity, swimwear business owner, and a customer service representative, was last seen on July 11, 2022, when Maitland reportedly picked her up from her mother’s home. Her mother, Sophia Lugg, previously testified that she last heard from her daughter on the morning of July 12. Donaldson was reported missing the following day.
The trial is set to resume on Monday.