Lawyer questions whether Donna-Lee left on illegal vessel

During a high-profile murder trial at the Home Circuit Court in downtown Kingston, a director from the Passport, Immigration, and Citizenship Agency (PICA) testified on Monday that she could not confirm whether Donna-Lee Donaldson, a 24-year-old social media influencer, might have left Jamaica through an illegal port of entry. The director emphasized that PICA’s records only document legal entries and exits, leaving gaps in tracking unauthorized departures. The testimony came during cross-examination by Chadwick Berry, an attorney representing Constable Noel Maitland, who faces charges of murder and preventing the lawful burial of a corpse in connection with Donaldson’s disappearance on July 12, 2022. Donaldson was last seen at Maitland’s apartment in the Chelsea Manor complex in St Andrew, where forensic evidence, including blood matching her DNA, was discovered. Berry questioned the witness about the possibility of Donaldson leaving Jamaica via unconventional means, such as a banana boat or an unregistered aircraft using illegal ports. The director confirmed that such departures would not be reflected in PICA’s computerized border management system, which logs only authorized travel. She also disclosed that Donaldson’s last recorded travel date was March 12, 2021, and provided details about her passport and an alternate name, Donna-Lee Sophia White, which was linked to a child’s passport last used in 2013. The trial continues today.