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A neighbour who lived at murder accused Noel Maitland's New Kingston apartment said he felt pressured by the cop to delete footage captured on two of his five surveillance cameras.
The neighbour is the prosecution's sixth witness.
Constable Maitland is charged with murder and preventing the lawful burial of a corpse in connection with the July 2022 disappearance of his girlfriend, Donna-Lee Donaldson.
The witness said on July 13, 2022, about 5 p.m., Mr. Maitland contacted him via WhatsApp, inquiring about possible footage on his camera system.
The witness, an economist, said he told Mr. Maitland that he would need to check the system when he got home. He said he suggested Mr. Maitland call him around 7 p.m., which the cop did.
According to the witness, Mr. Maitland told him that he was up for promotion and inquired if footage from the security camera system was stored. The witness said he told him they are recorded, but he doesn't know for how long they are stored.
The witness said Mr. Maitland told him that he was being evaluated as part of a promotion and that the department where he worked in the police force would be conducting background checks. Therefore, the cop said he did not want any problematic behaviour such as smoking a ganja spliff to be recorded or stored on camera.
The witness said on July 14, he was working from home when Mr. Maitland came knocking at his door. He said he told Mr. Maitland via WhatsApp message that he was in a meeting.
Lead prosecutor Claudette Thompson asked the witness what happened after. He said the cop waited approximately 15 minutes. The witness said he eventually opened the door. He said that was when Mr. Maitland told him that a girl who came by his place had gone missing.
He said he yielded to Mr. Maitland's request to come inside his apartment and view the footage.
The court was told that Mr. Maitland requested to view the footage from Tuesday July 12, 2022.
The witness said that that was when he discovered that only two of his five cameras were fully functioning.
The court was further told that the cameras captured Mr. Maitland exiting his vehicle.
According to the witness, Mr. Maitland told him that he would feel comfortable if he deleted the footage. He said the defendant asked him at least twice to erase the footage.
Responding to the prosecution on why he did not comply with Mr. Maitland's request, the witness said he did not feel it was appropriate to delete the footage.
The witness said moments later, Mr. Maitland said he did not want to feel like he was pressuring him to delete the footage.
Responding to the prosecution, the witness affirmed that he felt pressured.
The court was subsequently told that Mr. Maitland had left the apartment before returning between 7 and 8 p.m. when the technician, who had installed the security cameras for both the witness and the complex, arrived to view the footage.
The trial continues Monday in the Home Circuit Court.
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