Matthew Hyde Sentenced for Brutal Torture of Ex-Girlfriend. Matthew Hyde, a former University of the West Indies student who the court found guilty of torturing his ex-girlfriend, was sentenced to 15 years and seven months imprisonment.
Hyde, 20, had been in custody since he committed the heinous crime in February 2023, which sparked public outrage. The court sentenced him to 15 years and seven months for one count of causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
Also, the court sentenced him to four years on three additional counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent. Plus, five years and nine months for malicious communication, one year and nine months for assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and one year and ten months for false imprisonment.
In delivering the sentence, Justice Carolyn Tie Powell reduced each sentence by one year and ten months to account for the time already served in custody. Additionally, the Judge granted Hyde a 15 percent reduction in his sentence due to his early plea.
The sentences are to run concurrently, which means Matthew Hyde will serve another 13 years and nine months behind bars.
Matthew Hyde pleaded guilty to committing the brutal torture of his ex-girlfriend
Hyde had pleaded guilty to committing the brutal acts in September.
The allegations stated that between February 6 and February 9, Hyde allegedly held his ex-girlfriend against her will in his room at the George Alleyne Hall on the UWI Mona campus.
Hyde used an electric iron to sear the complainant on her buttocks, breasts, nose, and lips. Hyde also seared the complainant’s arms, forehead, cheeks, and both sides of her back.
Still, he did not stop there; Hyde kicked and pulled her by the hair, held her by the throat, and beat her with a belt.
Judge Describes Hyde’s Case as Unprecedented
Matthew Hyde was a second-year biochemistry student. He committed his brutal acts of torture after ordering the complainant to strip naked. He had also taken pictures and videos of the complainant and posted them on social media.
But, in handing down the sentence for causing grievous bodily harm, the Judge opted not to impose a life sentence.
At the same time, she noted that the case had a significant degree of brutality and cruelty and that what Hyde did was horrifying.
“I have not come across another case of branding as this case may be described or case of torture as this case may be described,” she said.