Power Outage Delays Sentencing of Former UWI Student Accused of Holding Girlfriend Captive

Kingston, Jamaica – The sentencing of former University of the West Indies (UWI) student Matthew Hyde, who pleaded guilty to charges connected to holding his then-girlfriend captive and assaulting her in 2023, was postponed on Friday due to power outages at the Supreme Court. The sentencing, originally scheduled for that day, is now set for November 22.

Hyde, 21, arrived over two hours late to court due to transportation issues, and minutes into the delayed hearing, recurring power disruptions forced Justice Carolyn Tie-Powell to reschedule. Hyde had hoped to issue a formal apology to the complainant, which she had agreed to on the condition she could respond. The delay frustrated the young woman, who attended remotely via Zoom. Her lawyer, Obika Gordon, noted that she was eager for “a sentence that fits the abuse, torture, and assault that she suffered.”

The charges against Hyde stem from a February 2023 incident in which he allegedly held his ex-girlfriend captive for several days in his dorm room at UWI’s George Alleyne Hall. During this period, Hyde reportedly subjected her to repeated assaults, including burns inflicted with a clothing iron. She was rescued after managing to alert the police.

Hyde faces sentencing on seven counts, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm, false imprisonment, and grievous bodily harm with intent. Defense attorney Patrick Peterkin emphasized Hyde’s youth, remorse, and “psychological fragility,” hoping for leniency given his time in custody—about one year and nine months—and a psychiatric evaluation suggesting he is “not beyond redemption.”

The case has garnered significant attention, particularly concerning safety on campus, and the public is now awaiting the rescheduled sentencing on November 22.