LAWYERS representing Constable Noel Maitland in his murder trial in the Home Circuit Court in Kingston were not able to begin questioning their witnesses on Monday as they had difficulty reaching them, forcing trial Judge Leighton Pusey to adjourn the matter until today.

Justice Pusey explained to the seven-member jury that, “it was unfortunate that in the same way we had problems with the Crown’s case, the defence also has a problem in terms of having persons here”.

“We are not starting today,” Pusey said, before instructing the jury to return Tuesday.

Maitland is on trial for murder and preventing the lawful burial of a corpse in relation to the July 12, 2022 disappearance of his 24-year-old social media influencer girlfriend Donna-Lee Donaldson.

Donaldson was last seen at the Chelsea Manor Apartment complex in St Andrew where Maitland lived.

While Maitland maintains his innocence, prosecutors are trying to use a host of circumstantial evidence to have him convicted, including blood found in his apartment that is said to belong to Donaldson.

Representing Maitland are Christopher Townsend, King’s Counsel, Larry Smith, Chadwick Berry, Sanjay Smith, and Kaysian Kennedy-Sherman.