Blood evidence matches Donna-Lee Donaldson, witness tells court
Published:Wednesday | November 12, 2025 | 12:35 AMTanesha Mundle/Staff Reporter
Blood traces found on several items seized from the New Kingston apartment of police constable Noel Maitland have been confirmed to match the DNA profile of his missing girlfriend, Donna-Lee Donaldson.
A government forensic analyst testified on Tuesday in the Home Circuit Court that Donaldson’s DNA was detected on a brown drape, a black and red Puma shoe, and a throw pillow cover recovered from Maitland’s Chelsea Manor apartment.
The expert revealed that the pillow cover carried DNA from multiple people, including an unidentified male.
“The DNA result from the throw pillow cover was consistent with a mixture from at least three contributors, including one male,” the witness said, noting that another section of the same pillow cover showed a mixture from at least four individuals, including one male.
To confirm Donaldson’s DNA profile, analysts used a toothbrush provided by her mother, Sophia Lugg, as a reference sample. DNA from both of Donaldson’s parents was also analysed to verify the result.
The witness explained that in cases involving missing persons, personal items such as toothbrushes may be used to extract skin-cell DNA. After confirming that the toothbrush contained viable DNA, analysts compared its profile with samples from Donaldson’s parents.
“Since our DNA originates from both our parents, the DNA from a parent can be used to compare with the DNA profile obtained from an intimate item,” the expert said, adding that the probability of parental match was greater than 99.999 per cent.
“Therefore, the source of the DNA profile obtained from the toothbrush cannot be excluded as being that of the missing person Donna-Lee Donaldson,” the witness testified further.
DNA SAMPLING
The court heard that the toothbrush and samples from Lugg were submitted to the government lab on July 28 and 29, 2022, while Donaldson’s father’s sample was collected on August 18.
The analyst further testified that a diluted bloodstain found on an outdoor mat produced no DNA profile due to insufficient genetic material. Similarly, no DNA was obtained from the left foot of a Crocs slipper found in the apartment.
Another forensic witness had previously testified that human blood was detected on the drapes seized from Maitland’s apartment, where six bloodstained marks were observed though not all were tested, in keeping with standard protocol.
The drapes and other items were taken on July 28, 2022, roughly two weeks after the 24-year-old was reported missing. Police also recovered a black suitcase containing women’s clothing, a baby carrier, and a bloodstained cushion.
Maitland is on trial for murder and preventing the lawful burial of a corpse. Donaldson was last seen on July 11, 2022, when Maitland reportedly picked her up from her mother’s home in St Andrew.
Lugg previously testified that she last heard from her daughter on the morning of July 12. Donaldson’s brother also testified that he had FaceTimed his sister on the same day in the afternoon and had seen her at the apartment and recalled seeing a brown curtain.
The trial continues today.