Constable Noel Maitland, who is charged with the murder of his social media influencer girlfriend Donna-Lee Donaldson, could appeal a judge’s decision to deny him bail pending trial in the matter.
Supreme Court judge Vinette Graham-Allen ruled on Thursday that there were no conditions that mitigate against the officer absconding bail or interfering with the witnesses.
The judge said, too, that there is the likelihood that Maitland could obstruct the probe in the case or re-offend while on bail.
Sources told Jam Street Journal that his legal team will await instructions from Maitland on whether to appeal the denial of bail.
The accused cop was charged in early August with Donaldson’s murder. He was recently charged with preventing the lawful burial of a corpse. That charge was due to the woman’s body being unable to he found to date.
Maitland was remanded to appear in court on February 9, 2023, for a plea and case management hearing.
Donaldson has been missing since July 13, approximately two days following a visit to the policeman’s apartment.
Investigators have said forensic analyses have determined that bloodstains found on curtains and on a pair of sneakers inside the cop’s house belonged to Donaldson.
A red and brown couch belonging to the cop was taken to be clean. One witness claimed it contained “while heap o’ blood coming out the right”.
Maitland had allegedly told the cleaners that his cousin had injured himself, messing up the furniture with blood, prosecutors said.
The defence, led by attorney Christopher Townsend, has criticised the prosecution’s evidence, describing it as being circumstantial.
