Appeal court hears arguments in CMR ‘podcast’ case
(CNS): Sandy Hill, the owner of Cayman Marl Road, will have to wait a few more days to find out if the 2020 conviction against her for cyberbullying will be quashed by the Court of Appeal. The case revolved around a podcast she broadcast online in which she accused businessman and failed political candidate Matthew Leslie of being a sexual predator.
When she appeared in court on Friday, Hill was represented by Edward Fitzpatrick KC, who argued that the trial judge in the case was wrong when he ruled that the truth of the allegations was irrelevant and that he failed to take evidence supporting them into account or give enough weight to the right to free speech.
The case has significant implications for the media given that Hill was acting in her capacity as a reporter and producer of an exposé-style audio documentary relating to Leslie, who has been accused by numerous young women and their families of sexual offences and soliciting sex from underage girls.
At the time, he was a local businessman and public figure who saw himself as a community leader and had run for political office on two occasions despite the allegations. He has since left Cayman and moved to Belize.
Hill interviewed and documented the accounts of many of the women in the podcast, entitled “Surviving Matthew Leslie”, which Hill said she had based on the documentary about R. Kelly. It was broadcast at a time when the MeToo movement was dominating the international headlines, and the press had played a major role, especially in the United States, in exposing powerful celebrities and wealthy individuals as sexual abusers.
When Hill promoted the podcast, Leslie reported her to the police, claiming harassment, rather than pursuing a civil case for libel, and for reasons that have yet to be explained, the RCIPS and later the director of public prosecutions chose to pursue a criminal case against her.
At trial, the crown claimed she had deliberately targeted Leslie and had charged her under section 90 of the Information and Communications Technology Act, which was the first time this law was used to prosecute a member of the media in Cayman in relation to their work.
As he argued that the conviction should be quashed, Fitzgerald also told the appeal court judges that they should consider the proportionality of this decision, given that Leslie could have taken civil action against Hill if the allegations were false. Instead, the case was criminalised, he said.
The judge then failed to take into consideration or give enough weight to the fact that Hill was not harassing or abusing Leslie. Rather, as part of a search for and the exposure of the truth based on evidence which was put forth by Leslie’s accusers, she was conducting a journalistic endeavour in good faith.
The court of appeal accepted the fact that the allegations may have been true, and that should have been a primary consideration in the case. While the crown has conceded a number of elements in this appeal, it has also tried to argue that there may be circumstances when an offence of harassment or abuse could still be made even when that harassment was based on truth.
However, while the appeal court did not give a ruling following the relatively short hearing, all indications from the bench are that this conviction is unsafe.
Hill was granted legal aid on the basis that at an earlier hearing, the appeal court had raised the human rights implications of the case and the need for them to hear this appeal.
- Fascinated
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Say what you will, and many have done, but Sandra provides a necessary service in any democracy – exposing public corruption, challenging or questioning Government. Shi is jot a journalist but is closer to an investigative journalist than anyone else here.
One thing for sure, she’s repeatedly proven that her legal knowledge and abilities are far better than DPP.
She will win this appeal!
hahaha. who wrote this??? Sandra or her husband lol
Without her lots of corruption would be under the carpet and never be exposed. Cayman are too easy on Crime, Drug pushers and Drunk drivers. and that’s a fact. Anyone that’s drive a vehicle and it’s 2 times over the limit should lose their license for a minimum of 10 years 3 times over the limit should lose their linense for 25 years.
Like Rolston you mean?
Sandra is simply a vile, narcissistic, pathetic person whose sole purpose in life is to inflict as much misery as she can on people. Let’s see if she can outrun the Karma sh’e so richly deserves.
As someone who has been on the receiving end of her vile attacks on people with only one side of a story and absolutely no corroborative evidence, all I can say is that it is about time this woman (toad) is held accountable for her actions. She hides behind the excuse of calling herself a blogger, not a journalist (when it pleases her) therefore believes she is untouchable.
When a false narrative about me was sent to her, rather than getting all sides of the story, she immediately ran with what she had. I was called a rasist (weird considering I’m married to a person of colour) and received death threats or messages telling me to go kill myself. The amount of people who commented such vile things about a person they don’t know was unbelievable. I was absolutely paranoid about going outside, it affected my work and my family and due to the extreme hatred of some of hers/viewers comments, I wanted to end my life a few times. I was fortunate to have such a supportive family and group of friends and with a lot of therapy, have managed to find peace again.
I appreciate that she may have her uses of finding lost property, however although I was a lucky one, there may be one day when what she posts causes so much damage that someone doesn’t /can’t come back from it.
This vile POS and her so-called reporters, need to start being held accountable
She’s a bully and so are those who support her! Same kind of low life people. Cowards essentially.
1. Mental health is very important so sorry to hear the impact it had on you.
2. “about time this woman (toad) is held accountable for her actions”… I don’t think you understand she’s won her appeal.
3. If what she said about you wasn’t true you can sue her. Kinda telling you haven’t done that & instead you’re choosing to write this long post on CNS…
Not all of us have $$$ to sue people, but she also hides behind this narrative that she is just a blogger , not a journalist, therefore it is her “opinion”. This is why she needs to start being held accountable for her actions. Her entire platform is seeped in hatred and bullying, bit it’s “ok” because it’s just her “opinion”
Granted, she is very annoying (eating on air, really love?) And does on occasion chase people over petty little things (dock sign for example). But she also exposes pedos, perverts, corrupt businesses etc. If she helps prevent just 1 kid from going through rape she can stay as far as I’m concerned. But lawd woman, stop eating during your show!
Wayne should be held responsible for her damages
And the massive deficit facing our once beautiful islands.
LOL! Sandra on her show this morning complaining because CNS’s reporting of this case didn’t make her out to be a hero. There is something mentally wrong with that woman.
We can’t empower people to scandalize at will, even if they are reporters. You may laugh now, but one day, it could be you.
The thing about Sandra is this – she spews hatred and (oftentimes) lies about people claiming it to be factual and ‘the cold hard truth’ but when she’s challenged, to avoid prosecution that same ‘cold hard truth’ suddenly becomes her opinion. Sandra should not be allowed to have it both ways. Either she’s a journalist and should operate within journalistic standards, OR she’s a gossip monger. One minute she wants to be ‘media’ to get in free to every event, but she refuses to abide by the media code of ethics.
Come on Sandra – pick a side and stick with it. Why should you have it both ways whenever it suits you? Clearly honesty and integrity do not REALLY matter to you in the way you proclaim – or is it that you believe integrity applies to everyone else BUT you?
One day, her daughter will be old enough to read these comments and see what the community really thought about her mother.
Sandra, you are having a great time now, but this life is fleeting. Consider how you would like to be remembered, not just by the community, but also by your child and future grandchildren.
I echo the sentiments of other commenters here: you are a vile human, but it is not too late to turn your life around and make a positive contribution to society.
People are better than the worst thing they have ever done. When I think about what Cindy went through when you went after her husband, I cannot believe you, of all people, would be getting up on a soapbox to preach about others’ infidelity.
As a product of infidelity yourself, I suppose you have firsthand knowledge of the evils that can be visited upon society from such relationships; however, I also think you have as much moral authority on the subject as Harvey Weinstein on women’s rights.
McKeeva, Saunders, Leslie, Barbara, Alden, and all the others you decry from your righteous soapbox are simply humans who made the same mistakes in life you did. Why are their sins more worthy of shame than yours or your father’s?
Whatever your views on Sandra are.. the decision to find her guilty was IMO completely wrong and set a chilling precedent…
for a start, she was not permitted to raise a “true” defence as part of her Defence. While i accept there will be some circumstances where you can harass a person with the truth… you still should be able to run this defence…
it would like the Compass or CNS not to be able to run a defence of truth to calling McKeava a women beater…
Secondly, Section 11 of the Bill of Rights provides certain fundamental freedoms… which can be infringe but it has to be proportionate… I don’t believe that the original Judge dealt with this issue sufficiently well.
Sandra is clearly a very polarising figure… but she is a journalist… and as such has a greater degree of protection… Matthew could have if he so wished sued her for defamation…
CNS or Compass have a professional approach to journalism. You cannot say the same for CMR. When the Owner/Host of CMR is live on social media using profanity to a minor for the sake of content, I and most lose all respect. Yes, there may be some content that is beneficial to most, however, her unprofessionalism outshines the good deeds. Furthermore, what is her rating on accurate reporting now? She used to brag about being 98% accurate.
I remember watching her show when the fiasco about Larry and his road rage was unfolding. Live on air, she mentioned the business that Larry and his wife were allegedly running, but she got it completely wrong. If I’m not mistaken, she said it was The Pines, although I can’t quite remember for sure. The actual owners of that business, specifically the wife, called into the show absolutely fuming. She was furious that Sandra had reported incorrect information, accused her of defamation, and was upset about the flood of calls and messages she and her husband were receiving because of Sandra’s inaccurate reporting.
The worst part was that Sandra gave a half-hearted apology with no sincerity or even a hint of embarrassment. I rarely watch her show, but I have to admit it was satisfying to see how embarrassing that moment was for her, especially since her so-called sources could not even get something that basic right. It made my morning.
A journalist? Which part of Sandra is a journalist?
Even if by the longest stretch of the imagination she wants to be considered a journalist, she would also need to abide by the media code of ethics. Sandra has no ethics or morals.
She is self obsessed and holds others to a standard to which she herself does not comply. And when challenged, she suddenly abandons the ‘journalist’ title and hides behind the guise of merely expressing opinion. She is a mouthpiece for hire which eliminates her credibility to all, except her cult followers.
On occasion, she is on the money, but the collateral damage she can wreak is ridiculous. She appeals to lowest common denominator types, so these people get their ‘news’ in bite size chunks with no nuance or depth. Just read the comments on any of the social media updates, it’s where languages go to die!
She isn’t going away, so people will need to just accept that, and when she goes too far with the wrong/innocent person, expect there to be legal action.
“where languages go to die!” LOL
ONE of MANY reasons I can’t go on the site.
IT can be good entertainment, but given the intellect of her followers…I’ll pass
If she claims she has “evidence” on anyone for anything, why doesn’t she provide it to the DPP (Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions) so the Crown can build a case and the community can get real justice? That would be commendable; it would be something to admire her for. If she wants to be an investigative journalist and do exposés, then she should complete whichever education it requires and get her credentials and have at it; but then, she would have to respect journalism’s code of conduct. Failure to do so means she would lose her credentials, soo… No. That nah gah work, you see? She wants to stir the hornet’s nest by claiming she has evidence without being obligated to veto her sources to confirm the veracity of the information, and submit her findings to the DPP, which is the ultimate goal of investigative journalism but her audience’s IQ is so basic, they only want scandal.
Even if she is not locked up. Block her domain on the internet.
Loxley should be the next to sue her. Happy to contribute.
I was thinking the same thing. Huge screw up on her part & she posted the apology at the bottom of the article lol. It should’ve been the title & a whole other post done about it.
This anger monger/shite stirrer needs to just go away already
By will or by skill.
I’m all for free speech especially when it reveals the underbelly of this country. People are too hush hush when it comes to the wrong people do & it has to stop. If they are gross & causing harm to other they should be exposed so the rest of us have an opportunity to to protect ourselves & not fall victim to them.
So, you can’t discern for yourself who to engage with? You CMR to do that for you even when they’re wrong and cause irreversible damage to people?
She’s the only one willing to talk about the corruption that is everywhere.
Only the parts that suit her.
Legge was right
Legge was right about what? That troll? You have to be joking.
She is NOT a Journalist
She’s a community activist with a large following… and exposes the unspeakable actions of those highly paid , whom we have entrusted with the management of our government.
Let her do that job, and if she oversteps the mark, the Law steps in.
She is a wanna be SJW who thinks that her opinion is law. Matthew Lesley was never convicted of the crime and if she has such damning evidence why isn’t he in jail? Whether he did it or not, it’s not her place to say that he is.
Until you’re a victim, she has posted sufficient evidence of his wrongdoing.
Until you’re HER victim. The number of half-truths and straight up lies that come from her platform is appalling. The problem is, she usually messes with civilians who don’t have the money to take her to court. When she writes about big wigs, she usually has another big wig backing her.
I’ll be real… this woman is a menace. Loud, messy, and completely reckless with how she uses her platform. But I’ve got to give her one thing: when it comes to calling out people like Brian Dwayne, JOCC, Saunders and the rest of that crew, she doesn’t hold back. She’s dragged them more than anyone else has had the guts to. But let’s not act like she’s fearless or impartial because she’s not. Funny how Jay and Isaac somehow got a free pass from her, even though they were neck-deep in the financial disaster left by the UDP. Makes you have to think, nuh true? Maybe it has something to do with that Wayne Panton $$$ gravy train she hitched a ride on. Just saying.
And her audience? I tried to listen to her show and between the comments, the live calls, and her rambling takes, it felt like intellectual decay in real time. It’s honestly scary. This is what happens when your education system fails your people. We need a hard reset. That means getting rid of the outdated, broken (Caribbeanisation) Caribbean-style education system, tossing out the CXC exams, and bringing in IGCSEs. We should stop importing teachers from underperforming third world neighbouring Caribbean countries and start bringing in educators from places that actually know how to teach—like the UK, which by the way in case people forgot… we are an overseas territory of. Because if we don’t fix this now, we’re going to keep watching generations of Caymanians stay stuck, unprepared, and easy to manipulate.
And that’s the real danger. Keep the population ignorant, and you can sell them anything. You can get them to vote against their own interests in places like CBE, BTW, BTE, GTC, etc. You can convince them that someone like Sandra Hill who is bitter, toxic, and clearly pushing an agenda is some kind of hero. She’s not. She’s just another loud voice doing PR for the very people she pretends to fight.
Finally, all of unna who gassed up this mad woman’s head is no better than her. Unna really made her think say she’s untouchable and some kind of God. But remember this, her time soon come. One day her loud mouth will bark up the wrong tree and I look forward to when she flies too close to the sun and gets bun up!
Agree on your take on our education system.
Our minimally “Caribbean” schooled children , are competing in the workplace against first world educated school leavers.
No wonder they can’t get jobs , lacking not only basic academic, but even the social skills needed at the interview stage.
It’s time for Government to realize this and take drastic action to reverse the trend.
F**k me. If you think a load of yuppity UK teachers are going to do underprivileged black kids at public schools in Cayman any better than they do underprivileged kids in general back home then I’ve got a bridge to sell you.
You can stick the entire teaching staff from Eton in our borstals we call public schools and it won’t fix a thing until you replace the SLT and Civil Servants that micro manage it.
And unfortunately the biggest hurdle is this, you can’t replace the parents, just like back in the UK.
So then why was our public education system 100 times better when the schools had a majority of British Expat teachers and GCSE/IGCSE examinations?
As the post mentioned, the biggest hurdle is leadership outside the schools making the decisions on curriculum, hiring and support.
Shhh… You’re contradicting the narrative that everything is the fault of evil expats.
The unpalatable reality is simply that many/most uneducated parents produce uneducated kids, and they simply don’t have the either the aptitude or the attitude to succeed.
There should be a subsidised option for the bottom e.g. 30% of the population to be relocated somewhere with a cheaper cost of living. Perhaps Scotland?
This comment! yes! ☝🏼☝🏼☝🏼
Sandra Hill is a narcissistic, self-righteous individual who pretends to be doing good but is pure evil.
Compare CNS reporting of the court hearing with the article on CMR about the same hearing and draw your conclusions. In the past few years, it seems she has been making good money from CMR, she owns her house, plus she owns an expensive duplex which is rented at very high rates on AirBNB, etc, so it not clear how she qualified for legal aid. Legal aid is for persons who can’t afford legal costs and it would not be fair for them to not get justice because of their financial situation. She can afford it, so why would she get or even apply for it. She loves preaching about persons engaging in illicit activities, etc, this is defrauding the government she claims she cares so much about. I suspect if someone does a FOI of her legal aid application and scrutinises it, there is likely misinformation on it, which is defrauding the gov’t.
If only you would read the article – the judge told them to give her legal aid because of the constitutional importance of the case.
I don’t know this woman at all but it seems that many comments here come from people who might.
What is troubling to me is that so many seem happy for her to be convicted whether that conviction was lawful or not. She may be an awful person but that does not necessarily make her guilty of the offence for which she was convicted.
She needs to learn that you cannot use a position of influence to convince the public that someone is a criminal. It maybe opinion, which everyone is entitled to, but she takes it over the line and convinces her sheep to spread and continue the narrative. If Matthew Lesley is a sexual predator, and if she has undeniable proof, then why is it not in the hands of the court? She believes her opinon matters more than proven/disproven word of the courts and wants to be the first to ‘break news’ despite it being factual, or the effect it will have (like names of accident victims before their families can be properly told). This has happened too many times and it needs to stop.
The Queen of Yellow Journalism.
Vile woman
Journalists have ethics, decorum, self-respect. She (and her audience) would not know how to spell such. Gossip and scandal and tearing down fellow is what we hey like. Why did the victims not sue the accused? I ask government to please use the real media houses. I do not want my tax dollars going to this individual.
Your tax dollars are used to pay for Austin and Foolio’s rants.
CMR is a privately run business not dependent on government funding.hence her ability to go where no one else dares.
Rants and blatant/unfouncded accusations are too different things
To 9:24am: What those two say on their show does not reflect DMS’ position on anything. They pay DMS for air time. Who chooses to advertise during their show is another issue. Nothing to do with public funds.
Who keeps her in business? Not the people who tune in to hear her spew lies and coarse language? If it was up to me she would be out of business. Never able to provide solid evidence from a credible source. Waste of air time.
Wayne Panton and Burger King
The TCCP just funded her for a good while more. The irony of a government preaching about bullying sponsoring the biggest bully in the Cayman Islands shouldn’t go unmissed.
Others in the mentioned family, not all with same surname, should also be investigated.
Why did he run to Belize?
Because Lawless Belize don’t care .
they all Sandra Hill do is talk bad about the Ppm members and others she should be charge it
She also talks about the failing education system, thanks for proving her point? Oh, and several of the PPM members are basically on your level and criminals to boot.
This woman trades and profits from tearing down people in the community. It is not simply a matter of right and wrong, it is right and wrong based on the judge jury and executioner that is Sandra Hill.
The major flaw is, Sandra Hill is for sale to the highest bidder, therefore, those who pay her don’t get the shake down (regardless of their transgressions) and the enemies of those who pay her have their characters destroyed.
It’s just like the mob back in the day where the community felt obliged to pay for protection less they or their businesses would be destroyed.
I am shocked she has been allowed to continue this long. Then has the audacity to run to the police to complain Mr Bush called her a wh**e. I think Mr Bush was actually being charitable by only calling her that.
Hence why the TCCP coming through the election squeaky clean while CMR dug up or tried to dig up dirt on everybody else.
I agree with this. Not much was said about Isaac plans to dredge a marine park. There’s was always talks that he would work with TCCP so maybe that why?
Heathers plans to dredge the North Sound were also glossed over by CMR as well.
Credit where due. On this occasion she may have done us a service by exposing him. Too many scumbags getting away with this.
This woman is vile and bullies people on a daily basis! You might recall the 2021 election where she was front and center bullying candidates. Wayne has supported this woman financially for years. For a person advocating for mental health through Alex Panton Foundation it is unbelievable that he cuts a check to her every month to keep her mouth running to trash people. I could never vote for TCCP because she ran Wayne’s campaign. Andre, shame on you you for going along with her vile slander. She clearly as no time for Kathy – that was clear. Her bullying needs to stop and i hope Andre puts s stop to her.
Why the hell is she getting legal aid on the people’s dollar? surely she shouldn’t qualify with her 2 houses, $90K car and more. She can afford a layer.
To be so mean and evil she must have dealt with a lot of dysfunction growing up. I hope they lock her up.
She dealt with a lot of dysfunction as an outside child. Those were different days and she seems to have been relocated from relative to relative. Then when she came back from US she could not get a job. I think she has many memories of rejection and has not learnt how to get that monkey off her back.
I was on holiday in the lead up to elections and listened to her show a few times. The arrogant, narcissistic person she is was telling different candidates they shouldn’t run because they not ready etc. I believe it was the day after elections, she was saying something about “losing your deposit” – candidates who I believe polled less than 10% of the total vote. She was asking how the deposit thing work, words to that effect. Like she knew nothing about it. A couple days later I went on the official elections website and was shocked to see that she ran in 2005 and 2009 and both times LOST HER DEPOSIT. A solid last at both tries, and I am told by a regular listener she has so much talk about elections and candidates and who should and shouldn’t run, and ain’t ready,etc, and not once did she mention that she ran twice and got a proper assing, to use her words.
Try reading.
Like her or not, CMR is the only show not afraid to shine the spotlight on the disgusting behind closed doors goings on of our employees, aka politicians.
Stick to the proven truth Sandy, and we with you.
Unless they pay her
Loll she’ll never say a bad thing about Wayne, CUC & Dart.
@5:19pm: Please define “proven”. Has she once presented solid evidence that any court of law could use to successfully prosecute anyone and find them guilty? We need to move away from the bad habit of taking GOSSIP for truth. Her audience’s lack of analytical skills is an embarrassment to anyone with “a lick of common sense”.
She must truly be a psychopath to be able to do what she does to people and then sleep at night.
What a POS.
vile human she is.
#lockherup
The new Government will work on strengthening the ICT law. Sandy Hill is not above the law and her lies need to be stopped. She is not a journalist.
The new government won’t touch her as she helped get them in! CMR were paid to promote the TCCP and discredit the other two parties at all costs. She is immune from them. The only party that shut down her foolishness and lies was PPM.
To their credit, I don’t think the CINP advertised with her either.
Julie Hunter did.
Hence why she was going after CINPs candidates before they joined forces as per Wayne and Andre’s instructions.
Oh the irony, TCCPs political mouthpiece facing a cyber bullying charge.
Please for the love of god and country lock her up and throw away the key.