Hyde returns to court Sept 18 in UWI torture case

The university student who reportedly held his girlfriend captive in a dorm room and tortured her over a year ago is scheduled to return to court on September 18 for the continuation of a plea and case-management hearing in the Home Circuit Court

The matter had reached the stage where the prosecution and the defence were to continue discussions regarding a possible plea deal.

However, the discussion was stalled to factor in the victim.

Consequently, the victim’s impact statement along with her updated medical and psychiatric reports were submitted on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, in February, when the matter was mentioned, the court ordered Matthew 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.

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.

Tanesha Mundle