UWI dorm logbook goes missing; Matthew Hyde returns to court Nov 8
THE records of those who entered and exited George Alleyne Hall at The University of the West Indies, Mona, between Monday, February 6 and Thursday, February 9 — which were requested by the legal team representing Matthew Hyde who pleaded guilty to assaulting his ex-girlfriend in his dorm room in 2023 — cannot be found.
The disclosure was made by the prosecution Friday during what would have been the start of the sentencing exercise for Hyde who, in September this year, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning grievous bodily harm, malicious communication, and false imprisonment.
On Friday prosecutors said all but those records were available on Hyde’s file, which includes a completed social enquiry report, antecedent report, and psychiatric evaluation report.
Hyde, through his attorney Patrick Peterkin, had requested the records from The University of the West Indies in relation to the signing in and signing out at the hall between February 6 and February 9, the days on which the ex-girlfriend was reportedly imprisoned by the young man.
“Based on my instructions, checks were made and they were not able to find these, so that will not be forthcoming,” a prosecutor told the court when the matter was called up on Friday.
Hyde’s attorney, in briefly addressing the court, said the defence would not be calling any other witnesses for Hyde prior to the sentencing.
The matter was, however, adjourned until November 8 by Supreme Court judge Justice Leighton Pusey, as sitting judge Justice Carolyn Tie-Powell was unwell and could not preside over the hearing.
Hyde allegedly held his ex-girlfriend against her will in his room on a block of the hall for at least three days, during which time he repeatedly beat her and burned her all over her body with a clothing iron.
She was subsequently rescued after she managed to communicate her distress using a device. A report was made to the police and Hyde was arrested and charged. Following a committal hearing in June of 2023 at Half-Way-Tree Parish Court, the matter was transferred to the Home Circuit Court in downtown Kingston.
