Hyde remanded in UWI assault case
Published:Friday | March 10, 2023 | 1:25 AM
The 20-year-old University of the West Indies student, who is accused of torturing his ex-girlfriend for three days after locking her in his dorm room, was remanded until March 17.
The 19-year-old victim, who is also a student at the university, was reportedly beaten and burnt repeatedly with a clothing iron across her body during the ordeal.
The accused, Matthew Hyde, who is of a Kingston 5 address, was charged with assault occasioning grievous bodily harm, malicious communication, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and false imprisonment in connection with the incident.
On Thursday, when the case was mentioned, Peter Champagnie, KC, told the court that he is requesting time for the defence to conduct enquires in relation to his client’s antecedent, particularly in relation to this matter and the nature of the offence.
He said that the process has already started and interviews will be done with his client.
On completion, Champagne said that a report will be provided, which he will share with the court.
“I do believe that the report will tremendously assist the court with how to treat this matter. It may determine the number of things, in terms of the life of this matter and the treatment of the matter on a whole,” he said.
The clerk of the court, in the meantime, said the case file is incomplete as the scene of a crime report, a statement from a first responder, and a malicious communication report from the Communication Forensics and Cybercrime Division remain outstanding.
The student was charged after he reportedly held his ex-girlfriend captive for three days in his room at George Alleyne Hall. She was reportedly discovered sometime after 10 p.m. on February 9.
Police investigators have suggested that the victim was accused by Hyde of infidelity on the day before he locked her away in his room.