Dr Carl Bruce, medical chief of staff at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI), was on Monday found not guilty of assaulting fellow neurosurgeon Dr Roger Hunter nearly two decades ago.

The verdict was handed down by Parish Court Judge Alwayne Smith in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court.

Bruce was found not guilty on two counts: malicious destruction of property and assault at common law.

The allegations are that on January 31, 2007, Dr Hunter was in the planning room at the UHWI preparing for surgery when the accused burst inside and said to him, “What the f**k are you doing in the planning room? Get the f**k out of the planning room.”

Bruce reportedly rushed towards Hunter and grabbed him by his tie and shirt and pushed him away. He reportedly then hit Hunter in his head, face, neck and chest before threatening to spit in his face. Hunter alleged that Bruce damaged his shirt and tie, which were valued at $5,000.

The matter was reported to the police in November 2024 and was first mentioned in court last April.

Judge Alwayne Smith, in handing down the judgement, explained that the defendant waited 18 years to make a complaint to the police with no explanation for the delay, which places the accused at a disadvantage of recounting the events of the incident. Additionally, the judge noted that there was no human resources record or medical evidence to support Dr Hunter’s claims.

READ: University Hospital’s chief of staff taken to court over alleged physical assault of colleague