Donaldson’s mother claims Maitland’s father said they both know the real killer isn’t his son

Sophia Lugg this afternoon stunned the courtroom at the Noel Maitland murder trial with a revelation that his father told her that they both knew who the real killer of her daughter, Donna-Lee Donaldson, was but had to remain silent for their safety.

"I know and you know who killed your daughter. You know that my son didn’t kill har and if we talk all a we ded," Lugg recalled being told by the father during a conversation they had after she took his taxi.

The mother dropped the bombshell while being grilled about the details of the conversation by attorney-at-law Christopher Townsend.

Constable Noel Maitland is currently on trial in the Home Circuit Court for murder and preventing the lawful burial of a corpse in connection with the disappearance of Donaldson, who was his girlfriend.

The 24-year-old popular influencer, swimwear entrepreneur and customer service representative was reported missing on July 13, 2022.

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

During his cross-examination, Townsend asked Lugg if she told Maitland’s father, “I know is not your son that killed my daughter,” Lugg denied making that statement.

The lawyer then asked if she had also said, “Mr Maitland, I know is not your son—he don't have the guts to do that.” Again, Lugg denied it.

Townsend accused her of lying, which she quickly rejected.

"You said to him you think he may know something about it?" Townsend pressed.

"We had no such conversation," she replied firmly.

Townsend insisted that she did, but Lugg disagreed.

He then suggested that Maitland’s father had tried to shut down the conversation by saying he could not speak because the matter was in court. Lugg maintained that this did not happen.

When further quizzed, she suddenly blurted out the claim about Maitland's father telling her they both know who the killer is.

Meanwhile, during further cross-examination, Lugg admitted that she told the police that the mother of Maitland’s child—a district constable—had a physical altercation with her daughter.

When asked if she also told the police that the woman had said she was going to kill herself and Maitland, Lugg confirmed saying so, but indicated that she did not remember mentioning Maitland specifically.

After being shown her statement to refresh her memory, Lugg acknowledged that she did, in fact, make that statement.

She also testified that the woman told her the police had taken away her firearm and that she was suspended.

- Tanesha Mundle

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