Plea deal discussions to continue in Hyde case
Published:Thursday | May 23, 2024 | 12:10 AMTanesha Mundle/Staff Reporter
The prosecution and the defence in the Matthew Hyde case are to continue discussions regarding a possible plea deal.
The university student, who reportedly held his girlfriend captive in a dorm room and tortured her over a year ago, was on Wednesday remanded until July 24 for the continuation of a case management hearing and for both parties to continue having mature discussions.
The Home Circuit Court was also told that a victim impact report is outstanding.
In February, when the matter was mentioned, the court ordered Hyde to undergo a forensic psychiatric evaluation as part of considerations for a possible plea deal.
The evaluation and a report have since been submitted to the court, along with Hyde’s antecedent and a social enquiry report.
To facilitate the evaluation, Justice Vinette Graham-Allen had also ordered that the defence obtain the invoice and settle the payment, which has been done.
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 George Alleyne Hall and allegedly tortured her with a hot clothing iron and other implements.
She was reportedly discovered sometime after 10 p.m. on February 9, 2023.
It is alleged that Hyde injured the complainant following cheating accusations.
Hyde, who appeared in court on Wednesday via video link, was further remanded.
Attorneys-at-law Patrick Peterkin and Gnoj McDonald are representing Hyde.