WATCH: Donnna-Lee’s uncle angered at court’s decision to grant Maitland a bail hearing
KINGSTON, Jamaica –Neil Lugg, the uncle of Donna-Lee Donaldson, could hardly hide his anger as he lashed out at the justice system for granting murder-accused cop Noel Maitland a bail hearing.
Maitland, who appeared before a Judge at the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court today to answer to the murder charge against him in connection to Donaldson’s disappearance, was given an August 22 date to make another appearance.
At that time, Christopher Townsend, the attorney representing Maitland, will be applying for the Constable to be granted bail.
READ: WATCH: Maitland remanded until August 22 – Attorney to seek bail at that time
Lugg told OBSERVER ONLINE that he was angry at the lack of information given to the family regarding court proceedings, highlighting that they learnt of Maitland’s court date through the media.
“A di media house make we know say him a come a court yesterday. We nuh get no call from no police, nobody. When dem charge him, dem come a mi yard come tell me say dem charge him and how me feel. And now him a come a court and nobody nuh contact we,” he said. “Him come a court without no representative of Donna-Lee and dem a grant him bail hearing. Mad,” Lugg exclaimed.
However, an inside law enforcement source told OBSERVER ONLINE that while it would be good to inform the families of both the victim and the accused of matters regarding legal proceedings, such disclosures are not mandatory.
The source explained that if the case is a high-profile one that is bound to garner mass attention, the police would decide on whether to disclose certain details including court dates.
There was a mix-up in the date Maitland was set to make his first court appearance since being charged for murder. It was first reported that the Constable was to make an appearance in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Thursday, but when family member, protesters and media personnel turned up to the hearing, they were told that the date was always set for Friday and not Thursday as reported.
READ: ‘Dem a try throw we off’ – Maitland court date mix-up angers protestors
