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He was a victim. Jamaican police saw a killer.
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
View all episodes
By The Frequency Network: The WaveA 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