📢 Cayman Marl Road owner granted leave to appeal 2020 conviction

Sandra Hill, the owner of Cayman Marl Road and online talk-show host, has been granted leave to appeal a 2020 conviction. Hill was convicted for the abuse and harassment of Matthew Leslie and was subsequently fined $3,000. The case was the first instance of a member of the media being prosecuted under section 90 of the Information and Communications Technology Act. The appeal was granted by the Cayman Islands Court of Appeal, with its president, Sir John Goldring, stating that the case raised human rights issues. 🏛️

Hill's appeal is based on the grounds that her right to freedom of speech was infringed, she was wrongfully prosecuted, and that the judge was wrong in law. The appeal court noted that the case raised "significant issues" relating to human rights and freedom of speech, and it merited leading counsel to argue the constitutional matters it brought up. Hill had initially planned to represent herself during her appeal, but the appeal judges intervened. She is now expected to be represented by UK-based lawyer Sallie Bennet-Jenkins KC, pending legal aid approval. 🗣️

Despite the persistent allegations against Leslie, who has twice run for elected office, he has never been convicted of any sexual offences. However, he was exposed on social media for soliciting a prostitute, which derailed his second attempt to win a seat in the Legislative Assembly in 2017. The date for the court to hear the arguments has not yet been set. ⚖️