The UWI Dorm Log has gone missing; Matthew Hyde will return to court on November 8

Records of those entering and leaving George Alleyn Hall at the University of the West Indies in 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 her dorm room in 2023 – impossible to find.

The disclosure was made by the prosecution on Friday during what was expected to be the start of the sentencing of Hyde, who pleaded guilty in September this year to assault causing grievous bodily harm, malicious communication and false imprisonment.

Prosecutors said Friday that all but those records are in Hyde’s file, which includes a completed social investigation report, a prior report and a psychiatric evaluation report.

Hyde, through his lawyer Patrick Peterkin, has requested records from the University of the West Indies relating to registration and exit from the hall between February 6 and 9, the days the ex-girlfriend was reportedly jailed by the young man.

“Inspections were carried out on my instructions, but they could not find them, so this will not happen,” the prosecutor told the court when the case was heard on Friday.

Hyde’s attorney, speaking briefly to the court, said the defense will not call any other Hyde witnesses until sentencing.

However, the case was adjourned until November 8 by Supreme Court judge Justice Leighton Pusey because the sitting judge, Justice Caroline Tye-Powell, was unwell and unable to preside over the hearing.

Hyde allegedly held his ex-girlfriend against her will in his room on the Hall Block for at least three days, during which he repeatedly beat her and burned her entire body with an iron.

She was subsequently rescued after she managed to communicate her distress using the device. A police report was filed and Hyde was arrested and charged. Following a hearing in June 2023 in the Half Way Tree District Court, the case was transferred to the District Trial Court in downtown Kingston.