AS the court heard evidence Tuesday that blood found in Constable Noel Maitland’s apartment belonged to his girlfriend Donna-Lee Donaldson, he sat stoic, abandoning his usual modus operandi of jotting notes during witness testimony.

Donaldson is presumed dead, and Maitland is on trial for murder and preventing the lawful burial of a corpse in relation to her July 12, 2022 disappearance.

On Tuesday, Maitland sat in the prisoner’s dock, paying keen attention to the forensic details shared by the witness, a senior forensic science officer. On some occasions he sat with his hands folded, and on others, he stared at the seven-member jury.

The witness told the court that DNA samples taken from Donaldson’s toothbrush were matched with DNA from her parents Sophia Lugg and Elwood Donaldson to establish a link.

“Samples were taken from brown stain on brown lined and plaited sheer drapes. The DNA profile obtained from exhibits T4, T5, and T6 all matched the DNA profile obtained from a toothbrush allegedly belonging to missing person Donna-Lee Donaldson. This DNA profile is approximately 2.96 x 10²⁵, which is 29 septillion 600 sextillion,” the witness said.

“It’s 296 [followed by 23 zeros] times more likely to occur if it originated from the source of the DNA profile obtained from the toothbrush. This source has been identified as being Donna-Lee Donaldson rather than if it originated from an unknown ordinated individual. Therefore, the DNA profile obtained is more likely to occur if it originated from the source of the DNA profile obtained from the toothbrush belonging to Donna-Lee Donaldson rather than if it originated from an unknown ordinated individual,” the forensic expert testified.

The witness said analysis was conducted on the toothbrush identified as belonging to Donaldson, and the DNA from the item was compared to the DNA of her parents.

“Based on the analysis of the DNA loci tested, the probability of paternity is greater than 99.9999 per cent. Therefore, the source of the DNA profile obtained from the toothbrush cannot be excluded as being missing person Donna-Lee Donaldson.

“In the absence of a reference sample, an infinite item belonging to the person of interest, such as the toothbrush, holds individual cells or skin cells of the owner of the items. It may be used to obtain a DNA profile possibly belonging to that individual,” she said.

Donaldson, a 24-year-old social media influencer, was last seen at the Chelsea Manor apartment complex where Maitland lived. Her mother, Sophia Lugg, reported her missing on July 13, 2022.

Lugg reported that Maitland picked up Donaldson from her home in St Andrew and brought her to his apartment.

The trial continues today.