KINGSTON, Jamaica – A serving police inspector delivered unexpected testimony Wednesday in the murder trial of Constable Noel Maitland, expressing profound astonishment at the charges against his former subordinate. The inspector, currently stationed at Rockfort Police Station in the Kingston Eastern Division, appeared as a defense character witness in the high-profile case.
The court heard how the veteran officer characterized Maitland as a dedicated professional who displayed no indicators of violent tendencies. “I was very surprised. This came as a shock,” the inspector testified. “Nothing in his behavior and general character suggested that he was a person who could have done something like that.”
Maitland faces charges of murder and preventing the lawful burial of his girlfriend, Donna-Lee Donaldson, who vanished from the Chelsea Manor Apartments in St. Andrew on July 12, 2022. The apartment was Maitland’s registered residence at the time of Donaldson’s disappearance.
Under cross-examination by Director of Public Prosecutions Claudette Thompson, the inspector elaborated on his perception of typical murder suspects. He suggested such individuals often demonstrate visible signs of rage, uncontrollable behavior, and violent outbursts – particularly during high-stress public interactions. These traits, he maintained, were completely absent in Maitland’s professional conduct.
The inspector portrayed the accused constable as an exemplary officer who required minimal supervision and demonstrated exceptional reliability in his duties. “He was serious about his work so he would arrive early. He would always be on top of things to be done,” the witness told the seven-member jury.
Testimony revealed Maitland primarily handled prisoner transport operations, responsible for transferring detainees between facilities including Constant Spring, Red Hills, Lawrence Tavern, and Grants Pen. His supervisor described him as “very vibrant” and sociable, noting he often became “the center of attention” in social settings due to his outgoing personality.
The prosecution challenged the witness’s familiarity with Maitland’s private life, prompting the inspector to acknowledge he had no knowledge of Maitland’s relationships with either Donaldson or Kathanya Smith, the mother of Maitland’s child. The inspector also confirmed providing an earlier statement to prosecutors, technically making him a Crown witness despite his defense testimony.
With the defense resting its case after this testimony, the trial proceeds to closing arguments from the prosecution team on Thursday.