Maitland's concern over 'missing' girlfriend raised suspicion for Donna-Lee's mom

Sophia Lugg, the mother of Donna-Lee Donaldson, this morning continued her testimony saying she became suspicious when Constable Noel Maitland repeatedly urged her to report her daughter missing.

"Mum you need to go to the police station because this is unlike Donna,"Lugg recalled Maitland, Donaldson's boyfriend saying.

Donaldson, 24, a popular influencer, swimwear entrepreneur, and customer service representative, was reported missing on July 13, 2022. She was last seen at Maithland's apartment two days earlier.

Lugg earlier testified that Maithland, had picked her up from her home on July 11 and that she last spoke to her daughter on the following morning but could not reach her after.

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

Lugg told the court that Maithland insisted that she reported the matter and asked her what station she would be visiting.

This she said happened after he called and told her that he spoke with the camera guy at his apartment and was informed that several vehicles were seen exiting and entering but that the faces of the drivers could not be seen as the car glasses were wound up.

"I told him that was stupidity," she remembered telling Maitland." I told him that it doesn't make sense because the cars must have stopped at the security point when leaving and entering and they should look in the car."

Maitland in response ended the conversation saying he would call back, which he did 45 minutes later.

"By then he started insisting and encouraging me that I report the matter," she said.

Lugg said she became convinced that something happened to her daughter when Maitland called her half hour later enquiring which station she was going.

The witness said she went to the Half Way Tree Police Station with her son and while there Maitland called again asking her which station she decided on and she told him where she was.

Lugg said that within five minutes Maitland and Kathy Ann Smith, a female cop, showed up and while she waited Maitland was observed speaking with her son.

However she said while she was giving a statement Maitland came in the room and said he had to leave as something came up.

But she said he gave the officer his number to contact him for a statement.

Lugg also testified that while she was at the station waiting to give the statement Lugg told a woman inspector that he did not know who Donaldson had left with when she left his home and the officer told him,"Come better dan dat yuh know betta dan dat."

- Tanesha Mundle

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