Psych evaluation for Matthew Hyde as plea deal discussions begin
Published:Tuesday | February 13, 2024 | 12:11 AMTanesha Mundle/Staff Reporter
Matthew Hyde, the university student who reportedly held his girlfriend captive in a dorm room and tortured her a year ago, is to undergo a forensic psychiatric evaluation as part of considerations for a possible plea deal.
Both the defence and prosecution are to engage in discussion regarding the plea deal.
On Monday, Hyde was ordered remanded until May 22, by which time it is expected that the examination would have been done and the report completed and submitted to the court.
The evaluation was a joint request by the defence and prosecution, the court heard on Monday when the matter was mentioned.
To facilitate the evaluation, Justice Vinette Graham-Allen ordered that the defence obtain the invoice and settle the payment.
Along with the evaluation, the court also heard that a social enquiry report and Hyde’s antecedent were also requested for the plea deal discussions.
However, the court was informed on Monday that the social enquiry report was not yet ready.
Consequently, the matter was rescheduled for continuation of case management in May.
Hyde, 21, is charged with assault occasioning grievous bodily harm, use of malicious communication, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and false imprisonment.
The University of the West Indies student was charged after he reportedly held his ex-girlfriend captive for three days in his room at the George Alleyne Hall and allegedly tortured her with a hot clothing iron and other implements.
She was reportedly discovered some time after 10 p.m. on February 9.
It is alleged that Hyde injured the complainant following cheating accusations.
Attorneys-at-law Patrick Peterkin and Gnoj McLeod represent Hyde.