KINGSTON, Jamaica – Matthew Hyde, who admitted to torturing his ex-girlfriend in a dorm room on the University of the West Indies Mona Campus in 2023, will seek to appeal his 13- year sentence.

Sources close to the case confirmed that the appeal had been made based on an excessive sentence as the 22-year-old hopes to cut down the amount of time he will spend in prison.

The Court of Appeal has reportedly confirmed receipt of the appeal and Hyde is awaiting a date for the matter to be heard.

He was given 15 years and seven months behind bars during his December 2024 sentencing.

However, his time spent in jail reduced the final sentence to 13 years and nine months.

His attorney, Patrick Peterkin had entreated the court to stick to a sentence of three to four years behind bars in consideration of Hyde’s age, remorse and mental challenges.

In sentencing Hyde, Justice Carolyn Tie-Powell had said,“It is horrifying what was done to the complainant in this matter, and persons who act in this inhumane way must prepare themselves for significant periods of imprisonment.”

Hyde had admitted to repeatedly burning his ex-girlfriend with a clothing iron as well as beating and kicking her over the course of several days at his room on George Alleyne Hall at the University of the West Indies Mona Campus.

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He was sentenced after pleading guilty to seven counts including four counts of grievous bodily harm and one count each of false imprisonment, malicious communication and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Tie-Powell had said anything more than a 15 per cent discount on his sentence as a result of that guilty plea would be inappropriate and would shock the public conscience.