Matthew Hyde was a victim of abuse, says lawyer

At age 16, Matthew Hyde tried to end his life by overdosing, a year after he was diagnosed with depression and was prescribed antidepressants.

The disclosure was made yesterday by Hyde’s lawyer, Patrick Peterkin, who sought to paint a picture of a young man who has not only faced abuse from his mother but has struggled with mental and psychological issues since childhood and currently has borderline personality disorder.

The 21-year-old university student has been in custody since last year February after he locked his then-girlfriend in his dorm room at The University of the West Indies (UWI) and used a clothes iron to burn her over her body while torturing and beating her.

He pleaded guilty on September 26 to assault occasioning grievous bodily harm, use of malicious communication, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and false imprisonment.

Hyde, who was dressed in black pants and a khaki-coloured shirt when he appeared in court yesterday, was observed removing his glasses and closing his eyes briefly as if praying before putting on the glasses and resuming his well-composed posture.

Yesterday during his sentencing hearing, which is to continue on December 9, his lawyer recommended that he be given a sentence between three and four years, taking into consideration a 50 per cent discount for his early plea, time already spent in custody and his personal circumstances.

The prosecution will respond on the next hearing date.

The lawyer, in a more than hour-long plea in mitigation, focused primarily on the assault occasioning bodily harm and malicious communication, which would both attract higher sentences.

BEHAVIOURAL CHALLENGES

While urging Justice Carolyn Tie-Powell to consider his client’s personal circumstance, Peterkin pointed out that Hyde had behavioural challenges from when he was a child which led him to get therapy.

He said Hyde was diagnosed with depression at age 15, and at 16 overdosed on medication and had to be admitted to hospital.

The lawyer also shared that Hyde, while living with his mother, was abused and as a result was sent to live with his father.

“We have a young man who has had a history of psychiatric challenges,” Peterkin said, while disclosing that his client was also diagnosed with persistent depressive disorder and post-traumatic disorder.

However, he said that Hyde’s risk of violence is low based on the diagnosis.

Turning to the malicious communication charge, Peterkin asked the judge to note that Hyde had restricted the publication of nude photos of the complainant. But the court heard that at least one person had seen the publication.

Peterkin also impressed upon the judge to find favour in the fact that his client had apologised to the victim and is remorseful over his actions.

He also asked the judge to consider that Hyde, despite all his challenges, had taken charge of his life and was doing well before the incident, as he was a second-year student pursuing a degree in biochemistry and was also employed at Supreme Ventures.

“I ask for this court to take into consideration his personal circumstance and to impose a sentence so that him being a young man can go through the process of reform and can rejoin society,” Peterkin said.

During the hearing, the lawyer noted that he was aware that the complainant, though hurting, has reported some level of physical and psychological healing.

The judge, however, cautioned him to stick to the facts and enquired whether the family had made any restitution, to which Peterkin replied that the family intends to do so.

He added that Hyde is not beyond redemption and that his family will be there to support him.

INTENDS TO PURSUE CIVIL SUIT

Meanwhile, Obika Gordon, who is watching the proceedings on behalf of the complainant, said that his client intends to pursue a civil suit to recover damages for her injuries and mental anguish.

“We haven’t filed anything yet but we have taken the initial step of putting a document together to commence a civil suit,” he said, following the hearing.

The complainant, who looked emotionally distraught, appeared at the hearing via Zoom.

Hyde was charged after he held his ex-girlfriend captive for three days in his room at George Alleyne Hall, UWI and tortured her with a hot clothing iron and other implements. The iron was used to burn the complainant on her buttocks, arm, face and breast. She was also beaten with a belt and kicked repeatedly.

She was discovered sometime after 10 p.m. on February 9, 2023. It is alleged that Hyde injured the complainant following cheating accusations.

Attorney-at-law Gnoj McDonald also appeared for Hyde.

tanesha.mundle@gleanerjm.com