Taxi driver or stalker may have taken Donna-Lee Donaldson, suggests lawyer for Noel Maitland

The defence team for Constable Noel Maitland this morning sought to establish that a taxi driver or a stalker may have been behind the disappearance of his girlfriend Donna-Lee Donaldson.

Maitland is on trial in the Home Circuit Court for murder and preventing the lawful burial of a corpse in connection with the young woman's death.

Donaldson, 24, a popular influencer, swimwear entrepreneur, and customer service representative, was reported missing on July 13, 2022.

Her mother, Sophia Lugg, earlier testified that Maitland had picked up her daughter from home on July 11 and that she last spoke to her on the following morning but that attempts to reach her after failed.

However, one of Maitland’s lawyers, Christopher Townsend, during his cross-examination this morning, questioned the mother about Donaldson's use of taxi services and the number of companies she used.

He first asked Lugg if she was aware of a particular taxi company that her daughter would use, but the mother indicated that her daughter did not use that company.

"She used several?" he asked.

Lugg answered: "She used three," naming the companies.

The mother admitted that her daughter used a specific driver to move around, but said she did not tell the police about that.

Lugg also testified that her daughter would do deliveries two to three days per week.

Townsend also enquired from the mother whether she was aware that her daughter was promoting her business on Instagram and had pictures in which she was modelling swimwear and lingerie.

Lugg said she knew, while pointing out that her daughter also had videos.

"She has complained to you that persons were looking at her page and made uncomfortable sexual comments?" Townsend asked.

"No sir," she answered.

"Or staking," Townsend added, to which Lugg answered in the negative.

"She never complained about anything like that," the lawyer probed.

"No sir," Lugg said.

"You said you are close?" Townsend continued.

During further cross-examination, Lugg disclosed that her missing daughter had her passport when she last left home with Maitland.

The mother said Donaldson had the document "for reasons.”

Lugg had earlier testified that around that time her daughter’s father, who lives in the Bahamas, had sent her money through a remittance agency.

She also told the court that Maitland said that he had overheard Donna-Lee talking to her father on her phone about the money while she was at his home.

The mother, however, denied claims that her missing daughter had been trying to conceive a child with Maitland and had suffered three miscarriages.

"You are aware that your daughter and Mr Maitland were trying to have a baby," Townsend asked Lugg.

"No sir," she answered.

"You are aware she's had not one, not two, but three miscarriages,” he continued.

"No sir, I'm not aware," Lugg replied with a smirk on her face.

- Tanesha Mundle

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