UWI Student Awaits Sentence for Torturing Ex-Girlfriend

Kingston, Jamaica – Matthew Hyde, the 21-year-old university student who pleaded guilty to holding his ex-girlfriend captive and subjecting her to horrific torture in his dorm room at The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, is expected to be sentenced today.

The young woman endured three days of unimaginable abuse, including severe burns with an iron, beatings, and emotional torment. In her victim impact statement, she described the ordeal as a terrifying fight for survival, stating, “I thought I was going to be killed. I gave up on trying to survive as I thought he was never going to stop.”

Hyde pleaded guilty to seven charges, including assault, false imprisonment, malicious communication, and causing grievous bodily harm with intent.

Defense attorney Patrick Peterkin argued for a sentence of three to four years, citing Hyde’s guilty plea, history of abuse, mental health issues, youth, remorse, and the time he has already spent in prison.

However, the prosecution argued that Hyde’s actions were premeditated and could amount to torture. The court also considered the extensive physical and emotional scarring the victim suffered, as well as the significant financial burden she has endured.

The victim’s attorney, Obika Gordon, is seeking a sentence that reflects the severity of the abuse and is pursuing a civil case against Hyde for a substantial sum, despite the $2 million already paid by Hyde’s family.

Justice Carolyn Tie-Powell is expected to deliver the sentence today, bringing an end to this harrowing chapter in the lives of the victim and her family.