Three men were charged with the murder of 31-year-old father-of-two Matthew Charles Clarke yesterday in Magistrates' Court.

Kyle Sousa, 17, Vernon Michael Simons, 23, and Shannon Jerome Tucker, 32, were charged with murdering Mr. Clarke on April 9.

The men were not required to enter a plea as the charges must be heard in the Supreme Court.

Mr. Clarke was rushed to hospital after being found in an unresponsive state at his home on North Shore Road, Pembroke, last Wednesday afternoon, and pronounced dead soon after.

Mr. Clarke's mother, father, sister and brother looked on as Simons of North Street, Pembroke, and Tucker of Middle Road, Southampton, showed little emotion as the charges were read.

The youngest of the accused trio, however, Sousa of Adams Lane, Warwick, appeared teary-eyed as he listened to the charges before Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner.

The men were brought into a packed courtroom, filled with Police officers, lawyers and reporters, under tight security.

Crown counsel Robert Welling asked Mr. Warner to remand the men into custody for two weeks pending administrative procedures.

The men were sent to the Westgate Correctional Facility until they are to re-appear in court on April 29.

Sousa was represented by Charles Richardson, Simons by Larry Scott and Tucker by Elizabeth Christopher.