Stuck: Wrongful Convictions in Jamaica with Andrew Wildes

Dr. Nisha Waller is the racial justice lead at the UK legal charity Appeal and co-author of Doubt Dismissed, a report tracing the hidden history of non-unanimous jury verdicts. She explains why “majority verdicts” are not neutral reform but a structural shortcut that makes convictions easier—often at the cost of fairness. Waller’s research focuses on England and Wales, where unanimous jury decisions were replaced in 1967 with majority verdicts under a public claim of stopping jury tampering. But in the archives, she found something else: anxiety about immigration, race, and class—plus open contempt for working-class and Caribbean jurors. Her argument is simple: if one or two jurors heard the same evidence and still doubt guilt, that doubt is real—and the system is designed to ignore it. The conversation connects directly to Jamaica. Jamaica now allows conviction even when the jury is split, and the jury itself has been reduced from 12 to 7—meaning 5 people can decide someone’s fate for life. Waller warns that “efficiency” arguments (backlog, speed, cost) routinely beat “accuracy” arguments, even though the damage of wrongful conviction is permanent. She frames it as state violence: when the state cages an innocent person for decades, that is harm on the same scale as street violence—just dressed up as procedure. Waller also explains why the public is kept in the dark. In the UK, strict jury secrecy rules block researchers from studying real deliberations and can even stop courts from investigating allegations of racism inside the jury room. Her position: secrecy should not override justice. If courts can’t investigate bias and researchers can’t study decision-making, governments are rewriting jury rules without evidence. Key Themes ➤ Why “majority verdicts” inherently dismiss reasonable doubt ➤ The 1967 UK shift and the racial/class panic behind it ➤ Jamaica’s 7-person jury and the risk of 5–2 convictions ➤ Backlog “efficiency” vs. fairness and accuracy ➤ Jury secrecy blocks research and shields racism claims ➤ Ramos v. Louisiana and how the US ended split verdicts ➤ Why Waller calls wrongful convictions “state violence” ➤ The larger system: policing, charging, disclosure failures ➤ Joint Enterprise and racial disparity in convictions ➤ The need for data: verdict tracking and independent review Chapter Breakdown 00:00 — Conviction at All Costs 00:33 — Jamaica’s Split-Jury Reality 01:35 — Meet Dr. Nisha Waller 02:47 — Why She Studies Wrongful Convictions 05:42 — Doubt Dismissed: UK’s 1967 Switch 09:15 — Jamaica Cuts the Jury to Seven 14:12 — 56+ Cases and No Official Data 18:04 — Jury Secrecy Stops Real Oversight 22:06 — Ramos Ends Split Verdicts in US 25:02 — The Whole System Creates Miscarriages Connect with Dr. Nisha Waller LinkedIn: Dr Nisha Waller - APPEAL Brought to you by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Wave⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Frequency Network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. More About Andrew Wildes Explore the work of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andrew Wildes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠—Jamaican lawyer, journalist, and host of Stuck: Wrongful Convictions in Jamaica. His mission is to expose systemic injustice, amplify the voices of the wrongfully imprisoned, and drive meaningful legal reform through storytelling and advocacy. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For updates, insights, and behind-the-scenes content, follow Andrew across platforms and join the conversation on justice in Jamaica. Production, Distribution, and Marketing Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Massif Studio & Production⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Tallawah Group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Massif Studio Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Massif on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tallawah Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For inquiries/sponsoring: email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rebecca Helm breaks down the quiet driver behind wrongful convictions: the pressure to plead guilty—even when you didn’t do it. Helm is a law professor and empirical legal studies researcher at the University of Exeter, working in an evidence-based justice lab. She explains what the data shows about how wrongful convictions happen across common-law systems, and why Jamaica should pay close attention. Her biggest finding is blunt: guilty pleas are highly incentivized, and that pressure can corner innocent people into taking deals just to avoid the risk of prison. She points to the UK Post Office scandal as a modern warning—where faulty software helped fuel accusations, and some people pleaded guilty to dodge harsher outcomes at trial. The conversation digs into who gets hit hardest. Helm describes children as one of the most overlooked groups in criminal justice—pushed by parents, lawyers, peers, and even judges to “just plead” to end the process. She also flags other vulnerable defendants, including neurodivergent people and abuse survivors. Beyond pleas, she outlines two more recurring causes: testimony-heavy cases that lean on eyewitness confidence, and the growing misuse of digital forensic evidence when lawyers and judges lack the technical literacy to challenge it. Key Themes ➤ Guilty pleas as a leading cause of wrongful convictions ➤ The “trial penalty” and why innocent people take deals ➤ The Post Office scandal as a tech-driven miscarriage of justice ➤ Children pressured into pleading guilty ➤ Neurodivergence, abuse survivors, and vulnerability in court ➤ Eyewitness confidence and testimony-driven cases ➤ Digital forensics: misread tech evidence and low tech literacy ➤ One fix Helm would prioritize: reduce plea incentives ➤ Why registries and case data change policy conversations Chapter Breakdown 00:00 — “I Pled Guilty to Survive” 00:10 — Why Innocent People Plead 00:18 — Meet Dr. Rebecca Helm 01:06 — Jamaica’s 3 Big Questions 02:58 — Cause #1: Guilty Plea Pressure 03:30 — Post Office Scandal: Tech Failure 04:40 — Why Kids Say “Guilty” 07:25 — Other Vulnerable Defendants 09:10 — Testimony, Eyewitness Confidence 10:54 — Digital Forensics Gone Wrong Brought to you by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Wave⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Frequency Network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Connect with Rebecca Helm LinkedIn: Rebecca Helm More About Andrew Wildes Explore the work of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andrew Wildes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠—Jamaican lawyer, journalist, and host of Stuck: Wrongful Convictions in Jamaica. His mission is to expose systemic injustice, amplify the voices of the wrongfully imprisoned, and drive meaningful legal reform through storytelling and advocacy. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For updates, insights, and behind-the-scenes content, follow Andrew across platforms and join the conversation on justice in Jamaica. Production, Distribution, and Marketing Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Massif Studio & Production⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Tallawah Group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Massif Studio Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Massif on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tallawah Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For inquiries/sponsoring: email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

King’s Counsel Andrew Pilgrim breaks down how Barbados nearly railroaded an innocent man — even after the victims said police arrested the wrong suspect. Pilgrim has spent 32 years defending the accused and challenging convictions built on shaky confessions. He tells the unbelievable story of Derrick Crawford: two tourist victims went to police and court to say the man charged was not their attacker, yet the case kept moving and Crawford stayed locked up. Pilgrim explains why this happens in small Caribbean states—pressure to “solve” high-profile crimes fast, overreliance on confession evidence, and a culture that treats police narratives as truth. He also walks through Haynes and Edwards, a murder case where the only real evidence was a disputed, unrecorded confession. That case reached the Caribbean Court of Justice and helped force a major shift: Barbados finally moved toward mandatory audio-video recording of interrogations in serious cases, cutting down the space for coercion, fabrication, and “he said, they said” convictions. Key Themes ➤ How confession-driven policing fuels wrongful convictions ➤ Why “solve it fast” pressure leads to bad arrests and prosecutions ➤ The Derrick Crawford case: victims tried to free the accused ➤ Haynes & Edwards and the CCJ’s warning on confession-only cases ➤ Why recording interrogations changes everything ➤ Judge-alone trials, jury reform, and shrinking bail in the region ➤ Remand time credit, plea deals, and the push for real evidence Chapter Breakdown 00:00 — Victims Say “Wrong Man” 03:49 — Confessions Ran the System 07:09 — How Crawford Became the Target 10:31 — Why the Case Kept Going 14:11 — Rare Exoneration: Child Returns 15:46 — CCJ: False Confessions Are Real 16:21 — Haynes & Edwards Explained 18:49 — CCJ Raises the Evidence Bar 20:28 — Barbados Finally Records Interviews 21:48 — Juries, Bail, and Backlog Fights Brought to you by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Wave⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Frequency Network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Connect with Andrew Pilgrim https://kctchambers.com/our-team-2/ https://dm.linkedin.com/in/andrew-pilgrim-b962855b More About Andrew Wildes Explore the work of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andrew Wildes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠—Jamaican lawyer, journalist, and host of Stuck: Wrongful Convictions in Jamaica. His mission is to expose systemic injustice, amplify the voices of the wrongfully imprisoned, and drive meaningful legal reform through storytelling and advocacy. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For updates, insights, and behind-the-scenes content, follow Andrew across platforms and join the conversation on justice in Jamaica. Production, Distribution, and Marketing Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Massif Studio & Production⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Tallawah Group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Massif Studio Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Massif on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tallawah Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For inquiries/sponsoring: email ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bonus episode today: Bahamian defense lawyer Krista Mason-Smith breaks down a landmark Privy Council wrongful-conviction reversal. She explains how custody abuse and inconsistent confession evidence derailed justice, why prosecutors dropped related charges, and how recordings and early access to counsel are shifting Caribbean policing. A must-listen on reform and accountability. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When veteran Jamaican journalist Lloyd B. Smith admitted he once pled guilty to a traffic offense he didn’t commit, it sparked a deeper question: why would anyone confess to something they didn’t do? That question sits at the heart of a shocking case from the Bahamas—one that exposed how false confessions can destroy lives. In July 2010, 20-year-old Vincent Ariste was arrested—not because he was a suspect, but because police couldn’t find his brother. Days later, without a lawyer and while in custody, he confessed to multiple serious crimes, including robbery and murder. There was no evidence against him except his own words. Those “confessions” led to 12 lost years behind bars—until Bahamian attorney Krista Mason-Smith fought to have his conviction overturned before the UK’s Privy Council. In this episode, host Andrew Wildes unpacks how a system built to protect can instead coerce, how the absence of legal counsel and recording safeguards can lead to devastating injustice, and how one lawyer’s persistence changed the trajectory of Caribbean jurisprudence on wrongful convictions. Content Note: References to police violence, coerced confessions, imprisonment, and wrongful conviction. Key Themes ➤ Why people confess to crimes they didn’t commit➤ How lack of legal representation enables false confessions➤ The significance of the Privy Council’s ruling in Ariste’s case➤ The shift in the Bahamas toward recording police interrogations➤ The role of defense counsel in protecting human rights Chapters (00:00) Would You Lie on Yourself? (02:00) The Arrest of Vincent Ariste (04:00) Confessions Without Evidence (06:00) The Voir Dire and Legal Oversight (09:00) The Court of Appeal’s Three-Paragraph Ruling (12:00) The Privy Council Steps In (16:00) Krista Mason-Smith Joins the Case (20:00) Police Culture and Reform in the Bahamas (24:00) The Fight for Representation and Accountability (28:00) What This Means for Justice in the Caribbean Brought to you by⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Wave⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Frequency Network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Connect with Krista Mason-Smith Krista Mason-Smith | Managing Partner, Murio Dusseel & Co More About Andrew Wildes Explore the work of⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andrew Wildes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠—Jamaican lawyer, journalist, and host of Stuck: Wrongful Convictions in Jamaica. His mission is to expose systemic injustice, amplify the voices of the wrongfully imprisoned, and drive meaningful legal reform through storytelling and advocacy. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For updates, insights, and behind-the-scenes content, follow Andrew across platforms and join the conversation on justice in Jamaica. Production, Distribution, and Marketing Produced by⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Massif Studio & Production⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Tallawah Group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Massif Studio Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Massif on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tallawah Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For inquiries/sponsoring: email ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Trinidad attorney raised alarms after a simple conversation sparked a national question: what if innocent people are behind bars? Brent Winter began his career as a prison officer, spent a decade prosecuting cases, and now defends the accused. In 2020, after a friend in Jamaica asked him about Netflix’s The Innocence Files, he wrote to the Trinidad and Tobago Newsday warning that “police can kill a man in more ways than by placing a knee on his neck.” Winter’s experience revealed a troubling truth: wrongful convictions are almost invisible in the Caribbean. Existing legal avenues are narrow, reliant on recanted eyewitness testimony, and rarely successful. Without independent bodies like the UK’s Criminal Cases Review Commission, the system leaves innocent people with no real chance at justice—even as the death penalty remains on the books. Host Andrew Wildes examines how public indifference, political will, and systemic failures collide in Trinidad and the wider Caribbean, why wrongful convictions undermine true crime prevention, and why the debate on capital punishment cannot be separated from the risk of executing the innocent. Content note: References to wrongful conviction, imprisonment, police misconduct, prosecutorial misconduct, and the death penalty. Key Themes ➤ Why wrongful convictions in the Caribbean remain invisible ➤ The dangers of eyewitness testimony and recanted evidence ➤ The political and cultural barriers to reform in Trinidad and beyond ➤ How wrongful convictions undermine crime prevention ➤ The death penalty debate when innocence is not guaranteed Chapters 00:00 — Letter That Sparked a Debate 03:00 — From Prison Guard to Prosecutor 05:00 — Public Pushback on Innocence 08:00 — Why Appeals Rarely Succeed 11:30 — Lessons from the UK Model 13:30 — Crime, Politics, and Injustice 16:00 — Death Penalty and Wrongful Convictions 19:30 — Police Pressure and False IDs 22:00 — Need for Independent Review 24:30 — Disclosure Failures and Bias 28:00 — Plea Deals and Long Remand Times 30:00 — Call to Action for Reform Brought to you by⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Wave⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Frequency Network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Connect with Brent Winter Brent David Winter | LL.B, LEC, LLM Brent D. Winter - Attorney-at-Law in Private Practice More About Andrew Wildes Explore the work of⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andrew Wildes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠—Jamaican lawyer, journalist, and host of Stuck: Wrongful Convictions in Jamaica. His mission is to expose systemic injustice, amplify the voices of the wrongfully imprisoned, and drive meaningful legal reform through storytelling and advocacy. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For updates, insights, and behind-the-scenes content, follow Andrew across platforms and join the conversation on justice in Jamaica. Production, Distribution, and Marketing Produced by⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Massif Studio & Production⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Tallawah Group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Massif Studio Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Massif on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tallawah Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For inquiries/sponsoring: email ⁠⁠⁠[email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Bermuda murder case unraveled under scrutiny. Julian Washington was convicted of killing Stefan Burgess, jurors persuaded that DNA on bullets was more reliable than any eyewitness. Prosecutors told them the odds were “1 in 46 million” that the DNA belonged to anyone else. With no defense expert to question the analysis, Washington was sentenced to life in prison. He spent ten years behind bars before outside intervention revealed the truth: the DNA interpretation was deeply flawed. Independent expert Dr. Dan Krane uncovered eight major errors, from “suspect-centric” testing to statistical misuse. His findings persuaded the UK’s Privy Council to overturn the conviction and force Bermuda to review more than 400 other cases tied to the same forensic lab. Host Andrew Wildes explores how flawed science and unchecked authority led to a decade lost, the systemic risks wrongful convictions pose in the Caribbean, and why access to independent expertise is essential to protect justice. Content note: References to gun violence, wrongful conviction, imprisonment, and systemic failures in access to justice. Key Themes ➤ DNA evidence as courtroom gold—and why it failed ➤ “Suspect-centric” interpretation and painting the bullseye ➤ Why courts defer to experts, even when they’re wrong ➤ The ripple effect: 400+ cases under review in Bermuda ➤ Access to experts as a safeguard, not a privilege Chapter Breakdown 00:00 — Case opens: Bermuda, Burgess shooting, and arrests 02:30 — DNA emerges as the decisive evidence 05:00 — Prosecution’s claim: 1 in 46 million odds 08:15 — Jury convicts, Washington gets life 11:00 — Appeal court calls the DNA “rock-solid” 13:30 — A decade served before new scrutiny 15:00 — Dr. Dan Krane steps in: eight fatal flaws 17:00 — “Suspect-centric” testing and confirmation bias 19:30 — Privy Council overturns conviction, orders release 21:00 — Lessons for the Caribbean: experts, access, and justice Brought to you by⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Wave⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Frequency Network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Connect with Dr. Dan Krane Dan E. Krane, Ph.D. Dan Krane - Interim Dean, Wright State University More About Andrew Wildes Explore the work of⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andrew Wildes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠—Jamaican lawyer, journalist, and host of Stuck: Wrongful Convictions in Jamaica. His mission is to expose systemic injustice, amplify the voices of the wrongfully imprisoned, and drive meaningful legal reform through storytelling and advocacy. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For updates, insights, and behind-the-scenes content, follow Andrew across platforms and join the conversation on justice in Jamaica. Production, Distribution, and Marketing Produced by⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Massif Studio & Production⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Tallawah Group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Massif Studio Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Massif on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tallawah Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For inquiries/sponsoring: email ⁠⁠[email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Bermuda shooting turned a young man into a convicted killer overnight. Jurors were told the DNA evidence was stronger than an eyewitness: a 1 in 46 million chance the bullets could have been touched by anyone but Julian Washington. With no defense expert to challenge the science, the prosecution’s narrative prevailed. Washington was sentenced to life, serving ten years before independent review exposed serious flaws in the DNA interpretation and forced his release. Host Andrew Wildes unpacks how a single expert’s testimony led to a decade lost, why “suspect-centric” DNA analysis undermined objectivity, the role of the Death Penalty Project in correcting injustice, and why access to independent experts is essential if the Caribbean is to prevent future wrongful convictions. Content note: References to gun violence, wrongful conviction, imprisonment, and systemic failures in access to justice. Key Themes ➤ DNA evidence as “bullet-proof” testimony—and why it wasn’t ➤ Suspect-centric interpretation and statistical misuse ➤ Appeals courts’ deference to expert authority ➤ The Death Penalty Project’s role in exoneration ➤ Access to experts as an issue of justice, not luxury Chapter Breakdown 00:00 — Bermuda, bullets, and the shooting of Stefan Burgess 02:30 — DNA at the scene; suspects rounded up 05:00 — Expert testimony: “1 in 46 million” odds 08:15 — Jury verdicts and a life sentence 11:00 — Court of Appeal calls DNA “rock-solid” 13:30 — Ten years in prison, then outside help 15:00 — Dr. Dan Krane reviews the case: eight flaws 17:00 — “Suspect-centric” testing and painting the bullseye 19:30 — Privy Council, immediate release, official reckoning 21:00 — Lessons: experts, imbalance, and access to justice Brought to you by⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Wave⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Frequency Network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. More About Andrew Wildes Explore the work of⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andrew Wildes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠—Jamaican lawyer, journalist, and host of Stuck: Wrongful Convictions in Jamaica. His mission is to expose systemic injustice, amplify the voices of the wrongfully imprisoned, and drive meaningful legal reform through storytelling and advocacy. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For updates, insights, and behind-the-scenes content, follow Andrew across platforms and join the conversation on justice in Jamaica. Production, Distribution, and Marketing Produced by⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Massif Studio & Production⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Tallawah Group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Massif Studio Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Massif on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tallawah Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For inquiries/sponsoring: email ⁠[email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A notorious St. James case turned two young men into pariahs overnight. Lawyers wouldn’t touch it, judges hesitated on bail, and even after DNA excluded them, the stigma stuck. Defense attorney Lambert Johnson took the case, pushed for DNA testing, and watched the prosecution’s narrative unravel—yet more than a decade later, the brothers are still awaiting compensation while the state prepares to contest their civil claim at trial. Host Andrew Wildes sits down with Johnson to unpack why defense counsel matters in preventing wrongful convictions, how identification evidence can be compromised, what the DPP’s obligations are when DNA excludes defendants, and why “justice” delayed through years of administrative and legal resistance remains justice denied. Content note: References to sexual assault, detention, custodial violence, and prolonged legal proceedings. Key Themes ➤ Defense counsel’s duty—taking the “unpopular” case ➤ DNA as exculpatory evidence and prosecutorial obligations ➤ Bail decisions under public pressure and media heat ➤ ID parades, photo contamination, and witness fallibility ➤ Compensation, aggravated damages, and state accountability Chapter Breakdown 00:00 — Stigma After Bail 00:15 — Case & Guest Intro 02:40 — Civil Suit; DNA Finds Culprit 04:15 — DPP Duties After DNA 05:30 — Bail Battles Amid Outrage 07:00 — Why Johnson Took the Case 07:58 — ID Parade Falls Apart 10:15 — Due Process vs. Jungle Justice 11:30 — 2013 Flaws: Photos & Mismatched IDs 15:20 — Accountability, Damages, Next Steps Brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Wave⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Frequency Network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. More About Andrew Wildes Explore the work of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andrew Wildes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠—Jamaican lawyer, journalist, and host of Stuck: Wrongful Convictions in Jamaica. His mission is to expose systemic injustice, amplify the voices of the wrongfully imprisoned, and drive meaningful legal reform through storytelling and advocacy. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For updates, insights, and behind-the-scenes content, follow Andrew across platforms and join the conversation on justice in Jamaica. Production, Distribution, and Marketing Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Massif Studio & Production⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Tallawah Group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Massif Studio Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Massif on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tallawah Website⁠⁠⁠⁠ For inquiries/sponsoring: email [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A young Jamaican mechanic—“R.C.”—is caught in the crossfire of a nighttime gunfight. Shot and near death, he’s rescued by a Good Samaritan, taken to the hospital, and wakes up to learn his right leg has been amputated. Instead of care and due process, he’s handcuffed to a bed, charged with multiple gun offenses, and held for weeks before seeing a judge. What follows: years of grueling bail conditions, over a thousand mandatory police check-ins, and a six-day trial that collapses under a “no case” submission. He’s acquitted—then inexplicably processed again—before suing the state and winning exemplary damages years later. Host Andrew Wildes explores how tunnel vision, bail conditions, and prosecutorial discretion can turn a victim into a defendant—and what “justice” looks like when it arrives too late. Content note: Contains descriptions of gun violence, amputation, detention, and legal process. Key Themes ➤Tunnel vision and wrongful prosecution ➤Bail conditions that function like punishment ➤The human cost of slow trials and administrative delay ➤Exemplary damages as a signal to the state ➤Systems accountability vs. individual rights Chapter Breakdown 00:00 — The question: “How much is a leg worth?” 01:15 — May 16, 2000: A walk down Jakes Road 03:05 — Shot, rescued, and rushed to hospital 04:15 — Amputation and immediate arrest 06:10 — Charges filed; no gun, no residue 08:00 — Days in lockup; no court appearance 10:00 — Half-Way-Tree Court: humiliation without mobility aids 11:30 — Bail granted—daily reporting condition 14:00 — 1,000+ check-ins over nearly five years 16:30 — Trial opens; prosecution’s case frays 18:10 — “No case to answer”: full acquittal 19:15 — Post-acquittal processing and fingerprints 20:10 — The lawsuit: malicious prosecution and exemplary damages 22:30 — Appeal upholds award; what the judges said 24:00 — Did R.C. receive justice? System lessons and the cost of delay 25:30 — Closing: Why these stories matter Brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Wave⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Frequency Network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. More About Andrew Wildes Explore the work of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andrew Wildes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠—Jamaican lawyer, journalist, and host of Stuck: Wrongful Convictions in Jamaica. His mission is to expose systemic injustice, amplify the voices of the wrongfully imprisoned, and drive meaningful legal reform through storytelling and advocacy. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For updates, insights, and behind-the-scenes content, follow Andrew across platforms and join the conversation on justice in Jamaica. Production, Distribution, and Marketing Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Massif Studio & Production⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Tallawah Group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Massif Studio Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Massif on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tallawah Website⁠⁠⁠⁠ For inquiries/sponsoring: email [email protected]  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Maria Shepherd spent 25 years living under the weight of a wrongful conviction in Canada. In this powerful live interview, Maria shares her journey from being wrongfully accused and pleading guilty to a crime she didn’t commit to her eventual exoneration. We examine how Canada's justice system failed her, the emotional and legal consequences of a false guilty plea, and what her case reveals about wrongful convictions in Canada. Chapters 00:00 When Justice Gets It Wrong 03:04 Maria’s Story Begins 32:16 Family Today & Lasting Impact 37:38 This Can Happen to Anyone 40:57 Defense Counsel & Disclosure 44:46 From Exoneree to Advocate 48:17 Why the Caribbean Needs This 53:46 What Needs to Change Now 57:38 How to Reach Maria & Support 59:11 Reform, Call to Action & Outro Read more about Maria’s story here: Innocence Canada Profile: Maria Shepherd    Canadian Registry of Wrongful Convictions Profile: Maria Shepherd  Maria Shepherd - Wrongful Conviction Day  Life After Wrongful Conviction: Maria Shepherd's Story  Brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Wave⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Frequency Network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. More About Andrew Wildes Explore the work of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andrew Wildes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠—Jamaican lawyer, journalist, and host of Stuck: Wrongful Convictions in Jamaica. His mission is to expose systemic injustice, amplify the voices of the wrongfully imprisoned, and drive meaningful legal reform through storytelling and advocacy. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For updates, insights, and behind-the-scenes content, follow Andrew across platforms and join the conversation on justice in Jamaica. Production, Distribution, and Marketing Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Massif Studio & Production⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Tallawah Group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Massif Studio Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Massif on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tallawah Website⁠⁠⁠⁠ For inquiries/sponsoring: email [email protected]  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Stuck, host Andrew Wildes sits down with Professor Jessica Henry—attorney, former public defender, Montclair State University scholar, and author of Smoke but No Fire: Convicting the Innocent of Crimes That Never Happened. They unpack the startling reality that up to 40 percent of U.S. exonerations involve “no-crime” convictions—cases where police, prosecutors, or flawed forensics pinned an offense on someone even though no illegal act occurred. From Andrew’s eye-opening Linstead case in Jamaica to Texas death-row prisoner Robert Robertson’s pending execution, the conversation exposes systemic failures and maps out practical reforms. Key Themes ➤ “Smoke but No Fire”—crimes that never happened ➤ Startling data: 40 % of U.S. exonerations are no-crime cases ➤ Police field-test errors and mass drug-charge dismissals ➤ Forensic fraud: arson myths, shaken-baby triad, lab scandals ➤ Prosecutorial overreach, plea-deal coercion, and cognitive bias ➤ Role of race and poverty in wrongful arrests ➤ Independent experts vs. junk science in court ➤ Death-row and life sentences for nonexistent offenses ➤ Plea bargains trapping the innocent to “go home” ➤ Structural fixes: training, funding defense, lab oversight, police reform Timestamps & Chapters 00:00 – Intro: “Where There’s Smoke…” — Andrew’s Linstead Lock-Up Story 03:02 – Meet Professor Jessica Henry; Her Wrongful-Conviction Research 05:46 – One-Third? No—Now 40 %: The Data That Shocked Henry 09:07 – Harris County Field-Test Fiasco: Thousands Pled to Lint & Tylenol 11:55 – Forensic Fraud Gallery: Annie Dookhan, Fred Zain, Dr. West 14:50 – Arson Mythology & Cameron Todd Willingham’s Execution 18:05 – Shaken-Baby Syndrome, Cognitive Bias, and False Murder Charges 21:11 – Robert Robertson: Death Row for a Tragic Accident—Call to Act Brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Wave⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Frequency Network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Connect with Professor Jessica Henry Website: https://www.jessicahenryjustice.com Podcast: Just Justice (available on all major platforms) LinkedIn: Jessica Henry X (Twitter): @jhenryjustice More About Andrew Wildes Explore the work of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Andrew Wildes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠—Jamaican lawyer, journalist, and host of Stuck: Wrongful Convictions in Jamaica. His mission is to expose systemic injustice, amplify the voices of the wrongfully imprisoned, and drive meaningful legal reform through storytelling and advocacy. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For updates, insights, and behind-the-scenes content, follow Andrew across platforms and join the conversation on justice in Jamaica. Production, Distribution, and Marketing Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Massif Studio & Production⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Tallawah Group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Massif Studio Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Massif on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tallawah Website⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Andrew Wildes engages with Bert Samuels, a prominent Jamaican lawyer, to discuss the pressing issue of wrongful convictions in Jamaica. The conversation begins with a tragic case from 1983, leading to a broader exploration of the systemic issues contributing to wrongful convictions, including police and prosecutorial misconduct, the role of defense counsel, and the harsh conditions of detention. Samuels shares his extensive experience in criminal law, highlighting the need for accountability and reform within the Jamaican legal system. The discussion also explores personal motivations for advocating for justice and the importance of upholding integrity in legal practices. Key Themes ➤ Public pressure and assumptions of guilt ➤ Police misconduct and planted forensic evidence ➤ Suppressed evidence and prosecutorial abuse ➤ Defense lawyers as last line of defense ➤ Coerced confessions from brutal jail conditions ➤ Duty counsel’s role in protecting suspects ➤ Delayed justice and abandoned appeals ➤ Speaking truth without fear or favor ➤ Justice, faith, and fearless legal advocacy ➤ Urgent need for systemic accountability Chapters 00:00 – Diane Smith’s murder, public outrage, Dennis “Shorty” Jenkins charged, venue change due to mob threats 06:15 – How wrongful convictions happen, parallels with U.S. and U.K., systemic flaws seen in Jamaican courts 12:52 – Defense expert uncovers planted evidence, forensic misconduct, collusion between police and scientists 18:11 – Suppressed video in Sangster & Dixon case, ID parade manipulation, rare prosecutorial discipline 25:27 – Defense counsel vigilance, catching altered documents, coaching of witnesses, early courtroom tactics 30:40 – Coerced confessions, poor jail conditions, duty counsel impact, the culture of forced admissions 36:19 – Appellate delays, constitutional rights violated, Kartel retrial statistics, systemic backlog failures 41:55 – Why Bert Samuels never sought QC/KC status, radical faith, personal experiences, commitment to justice Brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Wave⁠⁠⁠⁠ on ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Frequency Network⁠⁠⁠⁠. Connect with Bert Samuels More About Andrew Wildes Explore the work of ⁠⁠⁠⁠Andrew Wildes⁠⁠⁠⁠—Jamaican lawyer, journalist, and host of Stuck: Wrongful Convictions in Jamaica. His mission is to expose systemic injustice, amplify the voices of the wrongfully imprisoned, and drive meaningful legal reform through storytelling and advocacy. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠ For updates, insights, and behind-the-scenes content, follow Andrew across platforms and join the conversation on justice in Jamaica. Production, Distribution, and Marketing Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Massif Studio & Production⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Tallawah Group⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Massif Studio Website⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Massif on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Tallawah Website⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Tallawah on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

London. Busy, iconic, known for its postcards and palace guards. But for Lescene Edwards, there’s only one building that matters: the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, Jamaica’s highest court of appeal. From 4,000 miles away—locked inside one of Jamaica’s toughest prisons—he’s watching, clinging to every word. It’s been nearly 19 years since the mother of his children, Aldonna Harris, was shot dead with his service weapon. From day one, Edwards has said it was suicide. The police called it murder. A jury convicted him. In this gripping second chapter of Stuck, we take you inside the courtroom in London, where his lawyers argue that the crime was impossible, the trial was unfair, and the evidence used to convict him was fundamentally flawed. With new expert testimony, scientific breakthroughs, and undeniable questions of fairness, the case pushes Jamaica’s justice system—and its failures—into international view. Key Themes The Privy Council: Jamaica’s highest legal authority Discredited forensic methods and wrongful convictions The power imbalance between prosecution and defense Mental health, suicide, and societal silence What exoneration really costs—after 19 years in prison Timestamps & Chapters 00:00 – London Calling: The Final Stop for Lescene Edwards 01:22 – A Murder Charge Without Murder? 04:48 – The Handwriting Trap: Rewriting the "Suicide Note" 07:35 – Impossible Crime: Blood, Ballistics, and the Bathroom Door 10:50 – Gunshot Residue and Discredited Science 13:42 – Why Fresh Evidence Matters (and Why Courts Resist It) 16:15 – The Government's Defense (and the Judges Push Back) 19:05 – A Stunning Admission: “It's Just Impossible” 21:40 – The System Failed. Now What? 23:55 – Lescene Edwards Speaks: On Time, Trauma, and the Men Still Inside Brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Wave⁠⁠⁠⁠ on ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Frequency Network⁠⁠⁠⁠. More About Andrew Wildes Explore the work of ⁠⁠⁠⁠Andrew Wildes⁠⁠⁠⁠—Jamaican lawyer, journalist, and host of Stuck: Wrongful Convictions in Jamaica. His mission is to expose systemic injustice, amplify the voices of the wrongfully imprisoned, and drive meaningful legal reform through storytelling and advocacy. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠ For updates, insights, and behind-the-scenes content, follow Andrew across platforms and join the conversation on justice in Jamaica. Production, Distribution, and Marketing Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Massif Studio & Production⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Tallawah Group⁠⁠⁠⁠. ⁠Massif Studio Website⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Massif on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Tallawah Website⁠⁠⁠ Tallawah on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ 🎵 Music Credits Music by Rockot from Pixabay⁠https://pixabay.com/users/rockot-1947599⁠ Track: ⁠https://pixabay.com/music/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=174661⁠ Music by Paolo Argento from Pixabay⁠https://pixabay.com/users/paoloargento-38603296⁠ Track: ⁠https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=215184 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Stuck, host Andrew Wildes discusses the complexities of wrongful convictions with Professor Kent Roach, exploring real cases, the role of DNA evidence, the impact of eyewitness testimony, and the systemic issues within the justice system. They delve into the psychological aspects of denial surrounding wrongful convictions and the importance of legal education and reforms to prevent such injustices. The discussion also touches on the implications of the death penalty and the need for better forensic science to ensure accuracy in convictions. Key Themes Richard Catchway's case exemplifies a false guilty plea. Wrongful convictions are often underestimated in their prevalence. DNA evidence has limitations and is not available in all cases. Eyewitness testimony is a significant factor in wrongful convictions. Legal education can raise awareness about wrongful convictions. The death penalty's ethical concerns regarding wrongful convictions. Systemic reforms are necessary to improve the justice system. Forensic science plays a crucial role in preventing wrongful convictions. Psychological denial about wrongful convictions is common. Collaboration among legal professionals is essential to address wrongful convictions. Chapters 00:00 – The Case of Richard Catchway: A Wrongful Conviction 03:00 – Wrongful Convictions: Insights from Professor Kent Roach 05:50 – The Role of DNA Evidence in Wrongful Convictions 08:50 – The Impact of Eyewitness Testimony and Identification Issues 12:08 – The Importance of Legal Education and Awareness 15:09 – The Death Penalty and Wrongful Convictions 18:07 – The Need for Systemic Reforms in Justice 21:10 – The Role of Forensic Science in Preventing Wrongful Convictions 24:08 – The Psychological Aspects of Wrongful Convictions 27:04 – Building a Better Justice System: Lessons from Canada and Beyond Resources 📘 Get Kent’s Book: Wrongfully Convicted (Updated and Expanded Edition): Guilty Pleas, Imagined Crimes, and What Canada Must Do to Safeguard Justice   Disclaimer: This video is not sponsored; however, it contains an affiliate link. If you click and make a purchase through this link, I may receive a commission. 🎧 Listen to the Interview: Professor Kent Roach on the Charter A Course Podcast – S4E1: Constitutional Remedies Connect with Kent Roach 🔗 Faculty Page – University of Toronto Faculty of Law 🔗 LinkedIn Profile Brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠The Wave⁠⁠⁠ on ⁠⁠⁠The Frequency Network⁠⁠⁠. More About Andrew Wildes Explore the work of ⁠⁠⁠Andrew Wildes⁠⁠⁠—Jamaican lawyer, journalist, and host of Stuck: Wrongful Convictions in Jamaica. His mission is to expose systemic injustice, amplify the voices of the wrongfully imprisoned, and drive meaningful legal reform through storytelling and advocacy. ⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠ For updates, insights, and behind-the-scenes content, follow Andrew across platforms and join the conversation on justice in Jamaica. Production, Distribution, and Marketing Produced by ⁠⁠⁠Massif Studio & Production⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠The Tallawah Group⁠⁠⁠. ⁠⁠⁠Massif Studio Website⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Massif on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Tallawah Website⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Tallawah on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Friday, the 5th of September 2003, a single gunshot wound ended the life of Aldonna Harris Vasquez. Immediately, all suspicion fell on the only person who was in the room with her that day: Lescene Edwards.  The police started with suspicion, and the prosecution settled on a story that was salacious and simple: a police officer who killed the mother of his children and staged it to look like a suicide.  The motive? Jealousy. The method? Deception.  He forged a suicide note, and there was no gunshot residue on her hand, so she couldn’t have fired the gun.  From that day in 2003, Lescene Edwards never wavered in his account of what happened in that room—it would take more than 19 years, the intervention of Jamaica’s Court of Appeal, and ultimately the UK Privy Council, before the system admitted what really happened: this was not murder. In this episode of Stuck, host Andrew Wildes revisits one of Jamaica’s most devastating wrongful convictions. From biased police tactics to flawed forensic evidence, we unpack how the justice system failed—and what it cost one man, his family, and the country. Brought to you by ⁠⁠The Wave⁠⁠ on ⁠⁠The Frequency Network⁠⁠. More About Andrew Wildes Explore the work of ⁠⁠Andrew Wildes⁠⁠—Jamaican lawyer, journalist, and host of Stuck: Wrongful Convictions in Jamaica. His mission is to expose systemic injustice, amplify the voices of the wrongfully imprisoned, and drive meaningful legal reform through storytelling and advocacy. ⁠⁠Website⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ For updates, insights, and behind-the-scenes content, follow Andrew across platforms and join the conversation on justice in Jamaica. Production, Distribution, and Marketing Produced by ⁠⁠Massif Studio & Production⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠The Tallawah Group⁠⁠. ⁠⁠Massif Studio Website⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Massif on LinkedIn⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Tallawah Website⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Tallawah on LinkedIn⁠⁠ For sponsorship inquiries, contact: ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It began with a crime that shattered a community: five women and girls, taken from their home in Irwin, Jamaica, and assaulted in a nearby field. The island was horrified. The police promised swift justice. Days later, two young brothers—Kieran and Sheldon Brissett—were arrested and paraded as the face of evil. But there was one problem: they didn’t do it. In this premiere episode of Stuck, host Andrew Wildes unpacks how a justice system designed to protect the innocent turned its back on science, due process, and truth. Despite volunteering their DNA, and despite that DNA ruling them out as a matter of scientific fact, the Brissett brothers were dragged through the courts while the real perpetrator, Patrick Green, continued raping—again and again. Green would later confess to over 20 rapes. But for over a year, while his spree continued, the system focused its full weight on two innocent men—ignoring warnings, evidence, and history. With exclusive insight from renowned Jamaican attorney Bert Samuels, this episode exposes the hidden cost of prosecutorial overreach, systemic failure, and public pressure. It’s a case study in how wrongful convictions happen—not just through error, but through willful neglect. This is the story of what happens when the cry for punishment drowns out the demand for justice. And why, in the words of Martin Luther King Jr., “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Key Themes: Wrongful convictions in Jamaica The limits of DNA evidence Prosecutorial misconduct and systemic failure The case of Patrick Green, a serial rapist Public pressure, media, and justice The culture of “put it up and see what happens” in courtrooms The voices of victims, families, and communities in fear Timestamps & Chapters: 00:00 – Content warning & introduction 01:45 – The Irwin incident: what happened on September 24, 2012 06:50 – Public outrage and calls for extreme punishment 09:12 – Arrest of the Brissett brothers and their voluntary DNA 12:45 – Prosecutors push forward despite exonerating evidence 16:40 – Patrick Green’s crime spree begins 20:20 – July 22, 2013: A trial that ends in a single day 23:00 – Green strikes again—while the state looks the other way 26:15 – Green’s eventual capture by community intervention 29:00 – The system's failure: Who else paid the price? 32:30 – Interview with Bert Samuels on prosecutorial culture 36:40 – The Winston Hamilton case: déjà vu in court 41:10 – From punishment to prevention: What real justice looks like 44:00 – Final reflection: justice for one, justice for all Brought to you by ⁠The Wave⁠ on ⁠The Frequency Network⁠. More About Andrew Wildes Explore the work of ⁠Andrew Wildes⁠—Jamaican lawyer, journalist, and host of Stuck: Wrongful Convictions in Jamaica. His mission is to expose systemic injustice, amplify the voices of the wrongfully imprisoned, and drive meaningful legal reform through storytelling and advocacy. ⁠Website⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠ For updates, insights, and behind-the-scenes content, follow Andrew across platforms and join the conversation on justice in Jamaica. Production, Distribution, and Marketing Produced by ⁠Massif Studio & Production⁠ and ⁠The Tallawah Group⁠. ⁠Massif Studio Website⁠ ⁠Massif on LinkedIn⁠ ⁠Tallawah Website⁠ ⁠Tallawah on LinkedIn⁠ For sponsorship inquiries, contact: ⁠[email protected]⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when the justice system gets it wrong? Every week on Stuck, Jamaican lawyer and journalist Andrew Wildes tackles the problem of wrongful convictions in Jamaica.  Hear about the innocent, imprisoned and ignored, the lawyers battling to free them, and the experts demanding change.  Brought to you by The Wave on The Frequency Network. More About Andrew Wildes Explore the work of Andrew Wildes—Jamaican lawyer, journalist, and host of Stuck: Wrongful Convictions in Jamaica. His mission is to expose systemic injustice, amplify the voices of the wrongfully imprisoned, and drive meaningful legal reform through storytelling and advocacy. Website Instagram LinkedIn Facebook YouTube For updates, insights, and behind-the-scenes content, follow Andrew across platforms and join the conversation on justice in Jamaica. Production, Distribution, and Marketing Produced by Massif Studio & Production and The Tallawah Group. Massif Studio Website Massif on LinkedIn Tallawah Website Tallawah on LinkedIn For sponsorship inquiries, contact: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices