A 44-year-old man accused of quadruple murder and injuring eight others, including his brothers, was found hanging in prison after he reportedly asked fellow inmates about various ways to kill himself.
Peter Hyde, who police said was battling with and being treated for schizophrenia, was reportedly last seen alive on Saturday night in his cell at the Maximum Security Prison around 11 pm. Police said at 5.30 am yesterday he was found with a piece of rope around his neck hanging from his bed.
Hyde, unemployed, was charged with the murders of ten-month-old Destiny Lara, two-year-old Denicia Campbell, Akeem Young, 15, and his sister-in-law Lisa Charles, 46.
He was also charged with causing grievous bodily harm to: Campbell’s mother Delicia Young and Young’s siblings, Felicia Young, 22, Lara’s mother; Ashton Young, 16 and the trio’s mother Beverly Julien-Young, 47. He was also charged with causing grievous bodily harm to Julien-Young’s grandson Kadeem Johnson, 11; his nephew Josiah Charles, 8; and his two brothers Curtis Hyde, 39; and Nigel Hyde.
It was alleged Hyde set fire to Curtis’ apartment on December 20, 2011 at the Housing Development Corporation (HDC) building, Trou Macaque, leaving 100 residents homeless. The survivors of the attack were all relocated to Oropune Gardens, Piarco, following the fire.
Hyde was arrested by police in a maxi heading east along the Priority Bus Route. It was alleged that he set the apartment on fire after he got into an argument with Curtis over his occupancy of the apartment with his two brothers, Charles and his nephew.
Police say there was no signs of foul play in Hyde’s death but, as a matter of precaution, an autopsy has been ordered. This will be done today at the Forensic Science Centre, St James.
