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Defence lawyers on Monday signalled that they will seek to have the murder case against Police Constable Noel Maitland dismissed after prosecutors closed their case in the high-profile trial over the disappearance of influencer Donna-Lee Donaldson.
A total of 36 witnesses were called to give evidence for the prosecution in the trial of Constable Maitland in the Home Circuit Court in Kingston.
The trial started in May.
Immediately after the prosecution closed its case, defence attorneys indicated that they intend to make a no-case submission, asking presiding Judge Leighton Pusey to dismiss the charges.
The lawyers claimed that prosecutors have not made a prima facie case against the policeman.
Maitland is on trial for murder and preventing the lawful burial of a corpse. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Donaldson was last seen alive on July 11, 2022, when the cop reportedly picked her up at her mother's home in St. Andrew.
Her mother, one of several witnesses for the prosecution, testified that she last spoke to Donaldson the following morning.
In a statement he gave the police on July 15, 2022, Maitland said Donaldson walked out of his Chelsea Manor apartment on the morning of July 12, after an argument about a photo of his child's mother on the wall and his threat to end their relationship.
A government forensic analyst testified last month that blood traces found on several items taken from Maitland's apartment in New Kingston have been confirmed to match the DNA profile of the missing social media influencer.
The trial, which is being heard by a seven-member jury, is expected to continue on January 12.
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