‘Bittersweet’: Donna-Lee’s mom welcomes life sentence for Maitland, but still no closure
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The grieving mother of Donna-Lee Donaldson says she is satisfied with the life sentence handed down to Noel Maitland for her daughter’s murder, but expressed lingering pain as her child’s body remains missing.
“Thanks to the DPP (Director of Public Prosecution) Ms Claudette Thompson and to the whole justice system and Jamaica and those that support me. Thanks very, very, very much. But I still have to deal with the reality. Reality, clicks in now, that yes, he is gone off to where he belongs but what happened to my daughter? What happened to Donna lee? When will I know what really happened?” Sophia Lugg told media outside the Home Circuit Court in downtown Kingston on Friday.
“So, I’m a bit sad, I’m bittersweet today because I still want to know what happened to my baby girl,” she continued.
Maitland was condemned to life behind bars for murder and two years for preventing the lawful burial of a corpse in relation to the July 2022 disappearance of his 24-year-old girlfriend Donna-Lee Donaldson. The sentences are to run concurrently, and he will have to serve 32 years and four months before he is eligible for parole.
READ: Maitland gets life sentence, 32 years before parole eligibility
Expressing satisfaction with the sentence, Lugg said she was hopeful for a confession regarding what happened with her daughter.
“I think I put too much in expecting that he would just confess to me today what happened to my daughter. This is just a chapter of my life that has been closed today. Yes, give him 100 years, that still wouldn’t bring back Donna. We are comfortable with whatever they gave him today,” she said.
Maitland was found guilty of murder and preventing the lawful burial of a corpse by a seven-member jury on January 22 this year, following an eight-month-long trial.
Donaldson was last seen at the Chelsea Manor Apartment complex in St Andrew, where Maitland lived.
A social media influencer, entrepreneur and call centre employee, Donaldson had been dating Maitland at the time of her disappearance.
Her body has not been found.
(Video: Joseph Wellington)
