CMR owner fined $3k in ICT bullying case
(CNS): A Grand Court judge told Sandra Hill he was not going to shut down her Cayman Marl Road website as he handed her a $3,000 fine for her conviction in an ICT bullying case, where she had accused Matthew Leslie of being a sex-offender. Justice Roger Chapple said he believed her site “served a useful purpose in the community” and could be even more so if she acted more responsibly, as he urged her to use her talents properly.
The judge found that Hill had been responsible for her actions when she made a “deliberate and planned attack” broadcasting unproven allegations against the local businessman and former political candidate that he was a sex-offender.
Leslie has never been convicted of these crimes but Hill broadcast a vlog (video-blog) retelling stories of young women who, she said, had claimed to her that they had been his victims.
The judge said she ignored requests from the courts and the police not to go ahead with the show that was broadcast online, which he said had caused Leslie severe harm.
The judge pointed to the dangers of vigilante justice and taking the law into one’s own hands. He urged Hill to go after the police or authorities instead and investigate them if she felt they had failed in their work and expose their shortcomings. He warned her not to play judge and jury, as it was obvious where that could end, especially after accusing someone who has not been convicted of such crimes.
Pointing out that the right to free speech is not an unqualified right and “no one can say whatever they like whenever they like”, he raised concerns about the way Hill had presented the accusations.
However, Justice Chapple showed his appreciation for her work in the broader sense. He said she was a thorn in the side of the authorities and in a democracy that was a good thing. He urged Hill to use her talents in the right direction.
Making it clear from the start that he was not sending her to jail or trying to shut her website down and stop her doing what she does, he said he was hoping to get her to behave with more care, as he issued the fine and gave her three months to pay it.
He also ordered her to stop publishing anything further regarding Matthew Leslie other than the outcome of this case. He directed her to remove all of the material relating to him from the website and social media accounts under her control.
Speaking to CNS after the judge delivered his ruling, Hill said she was grateful for the outcome of the case.
“It’s a chapter in my life I am pleased to be able to close,” she said. “Valuable lessons have no doubt been learnt from this. I am always mindful to improve myself both professionally and personally and this has been a time to reflect on all of those. I appreciate Justice Chapple acknowledging the good that CMR does in the community. I think that the vast number of references that came forward allowed him to gain a more balanced perspective on the situation.”
The judge said he read all 65 references and it was evident that Hill performed an important role in the community. However, he dismissed the live evidence that had been provided by the two MPs, Chris Saunders and Kenneth Bryan, who he said had not acquainted themselves with the case to assist Hill, and that Saunders in particular had largely spoken about himself.
I am very happy with the out come for Sandy, she is an amazing community champion for the people. Keep up the good work Sandy.
Heartless SH*T, you are looking for donations to pay your fine; shame on you after you caused this on yourself. Hope these donations will help you with the other lawsuits you got coming your way.
Go fund for a fine that she deserved. there are good causes for people to donate money. how dare she even accept it and smile and laugh about it. disgusting person
Finding her guilty was just part 1, hope Mathew sues the pants off her now in Civil Court now that a guilty verdict was recorded.
Sandra your obeah working now, but to ras clot wait for judgement day. Remember we all have an expiry date that is nearing, and we will have to answer for all that we do (good or bad). Stop being a hateful person, stop bullying people and try doing good. Use CMR to uplift the people of these beloved Cayman Islands.
Kmt Sandra get away again. What is wrong with our judiciary system? This is clearly not right, and she was in front of the Court accusing someone who was in Court to see that justice is served on her like all the other people who attended.
I personally hope you people are also going to the child abuse court cases because in our society that particular group deserve ‘justice being served’.
6:37; you failed to report that Alric Lindsay was also in Court supporting her. Bloody fools
so $3k for wasting months of court time???? that equates to 6 hours of legal time for a lawyer…..another abysmal decision by the judiciary……….
only good comment was that of the nonsensical behaviour of bryant and saunders who should be forced to resign their mla positions…(well that would happen in a normal society….)
nonsense ‘sentence’ again from our courts.
anyway she will now be sued in civils for many times more and will soon be finished
Not really. It’s a criminal offence – that does not translate into civil damages. Leslie would have to sue for slander – she wasn’t charged with that, just harassing him. Truth of the allegations was not a defence to the criminal charge but would be available as a defence to the civil case.
Hmmm? Wonder how much public funds in Court costs CIG has spent prosecuting Sandra Catron-Hill? What’s this, the third or fourth time? And she always comes out….
Would be good to know!!
Thats because shes no fool,like the commentors on here. Una dont like her because she expose una dirty deeds. Una hold that
Appeal this atrocious sentence immediately.
I want front seat with my popcorn. LoL
Well Kenneth Bryan was in Court supporting her today as well. Crying shame on our so call Leaders of this Country.. Are you now willing to right another reference letter for her after hearing the judge warned her and she went on his door steps and accuse that woman? You put a nail in your coffin Kenneth next election and Chris you better be careful we are watching you too.
He may write another one.
Now that sentence is a true atrocity. Can the government please appeal this sentence too?!
Sue her in Civil Court my girl.. Go in the Grand Court to be rewarded more $$$. She is nothing but a fool and a bully
5:05 I agree with you. You know that our educated society even believes her. I know for a fact that Sandra has harassed her neighbor and told her that she will never get a job in Cayman. These are the people who should go to prison. Using her ICT platform to defraud the people of these Islands, abuse people, threaten people and harass people. Enough is enough and when will she STOP.
You mean the neighbor who vandalized her car to the tune of $6,000 and the DPP has the file? You mean the neighbor caught on CCTV? Yea, standby.
If CMR or Sandra ever wrote about me.I wouldn’t Sue her ( she doesn’t have any money , she can’t even afford a New shower cap)
I’d Sue the ICTA for allowing a convicted cyber bully using the network.
What the judge has done is like giving a gun back to the armed robber after sentence
The law is an ass .Sandra will eventually sink herself. Justice sadly is not always carried out in court !
If you read CMR for your daily news you need to get your head checked.
Look at the people she reported dead only to retract. One or them is now a grand court judge.
Anyone who Posts “Riot at the Prison”? When all is well at the Prison. Should be ashamed on themselves.
4:58pm did you watched her live podcast on the Court steps? I guess accusing someone after being warned doesn’t matter to Sandra. Let’s send her to jail next time around..
CNS – Did you watch her live podcast today? You think she leant a lesson? I don’t think so. What a mess
Sandra has a conviction. I will not support any business that advertises on her site.
I fully agree.
Oh bohooo. Thank god she doesn’t need CMR to pay her bills. LOL
She does… Why ask the public for donations towards her fine then.
SH*T on the Court steps she is accusing someone… What the hell is wrong with her.. You deserved to be locked up. This is more than grounds to take away her ICT license.
Judge Chapple you warned her and look at her live podcast on the Court steps where she dis-regarded your order and accused that young lady. The matter should come to you for ruling and I want to see what you will do this time around. A leopard doesn’t change it spots.
Come on Cayman we can be better than CMR. Is she really what we want for our society? Should we all have to live in fear of her style of reporting? We can expect real news and integrity at the same time.
Let’s hope she’s learned her lesson from the conviction and stops with her vindictive posts. Know that we have the option of not tuning into her as well.
Oh my, Sandra never learnt anything today in Court. The judge warned her about her conduct and it was not even 20 minutes when she was on live accusing someone of damaging her vehicle. Sandra if the lady did damaged your vehicle, put up the footage and stop accusing people of wrongdoings. My understanding is that the lady was not arrested or even charged.
CCTV footage is pretty good proof actually!
You seem to not like Sandy but watching her podcasts? Why?
Anyone else notice how well behaved she’s been since the sentence hearing? No vindictive posts. Perhaps someone really is learning a lesson.
That’s it? Kmt she should be going with those teenagers who got 4 months. If she wants to be a respected journalist she should take a page out of Wendy’s (CNS) book. But give her time, she’ll do it again and the outcome won’t be the same
“…and that Saunders in particular had largely spoken about himself.” As he is prone to do.
Someone needs to go to jail but it is not Sandy Hill. I will leave that right there!
You can see some SH*T in this place!
This thrash mouther gets a slap on the wrist, while two young people get locked up four months and Mac the woman beater remains out Xmas vote shopping. What a pile of C R A P!
Sandra 1 – CIG 0
Now she will expose and destroy all of them in the election season 2021.
I read Cayman Marl Road every day, I am glad the Judge did not take that away from us…
Thank you Judge Chapple.
Agreed 1.22 , if was not for her we would not know about the goings on of our esteemed honorable leaders.
I can’t imagine proudly proclaiming that your daily news source is an outlet that Sandra Hill uses to settle her personal vendettas.
The same typo ridden “news” source where she regularly writes about and cites herself in the third person as a source in various matters… I wish there was a saying that was equivalent to “you are what you eat” but related to news consumption rather than food
Something along the lines of “You’re only as stupid as the drivel you read”
To 4:52: fully agree with you. Big difference between news and unsubstantiated gossip that panders to island mentality.
Is Catron now the possessor of a criminal record?
In my opinion, anyone who claims to be a journalist and screws truth is a criminal. Truth is a holy thing. Do not abuse it, or it will crush you.
hahahaha. That last sentence is delightful! Good God, what are we going to do? Nothing but complete idiots representing us in “parliament”.