The youngest of three men accused of murdering Matthew Clarke cast the blame on the other two as he rode in a Police car to an early court appearance.

Yesterday a Supreme Court jury heard that claim during Police testimony and interview tapes regarding Kyle Sousa, 18, from Warwick. He stands accused of stabbing and beating songwriter Mr. Clarke to death on April 9, 2008 along with Vernon Simons, 24, from Pembroke and Shannon Tucker, 32, from Southampton. The three men deny the charge.

In two interviews the jury heard Sousa say he was at the scene of the alleged crime but deny entering Mr. Clarke's home. He said he waited outside while the other two defendants were inside, but that he could see what was happening.

Detective Constable Don DeSilva told the court he asked Sousa if he had told the whole truth in a Police interview the previous day while the two men rode in a car on the way to a court appearance on April 15 2008.

Det. Con. DeSilva told the jury Sousa allegedly said: "I was at the guy's apartment. Shannon asked me to go do the job. He wanted me to kill the guy and he was going to give me a thousand for the job, but I couldn't do it. I couldn't get involved with that. But I was there when the plan went down with these guys Shannon and Vernon to get this guy Clarke.

"When Vernon was hitting him with the pipe, Shannon had the knife and was stabbing him in the neck and all over the place. I don't know where the knife is now, seriously."

After the court proceedings Det. Con. DeSilva again rode with Sousa and questioned him. Sousa allegedly said: "I know you think I'm guilty but Shannon and Vernon stabbed ya' boy with the same knife. Shannon stabbed him in the side and chest and Vernon stabbed him in the neck when he was out cold, when he was already out."

Sousa's account differed from an earlier account the jury heard from a Police interview tape made on April 14, 2008 where Sousa said he saw Simons hitting Mr. Clarke several times across the head while the victim screamed at Tucker "how you gonna let this guy do this to me". Sousa said that while standing outside he also saw Simons stabbing him in the side of his body with a knife. He said he did not see Tucker striking Mr. Clarke.

During the taped interview Sousa said the three men went to Mr. Clarke's house because Simons and Tucker were angry over Mr. Clarke "snitching" about a drug deal.

During the Police interview tapes Sousa protested his innocence and told Police he had assisted them recover a bag containing a metal pipe allegedly used in the murder from a Pembroke pond: "I'm being truthful. I would never, never, never... kill nobody! Never in my life and never in my life would dream of doing it, 'cause I'm a pussy when it comes to that sh**. A big pussy. I don't, no, I'll fight you before I'll kill you. I wouldn't even kill you. I wouldn't even dream of doing that there, 'cause I wouldn't harm your life like that there.

"I was present, yes! I was present! That's how you guys got all the information..."

At the end of the Police interview tapes Sousa was asked if he had been intimidated or bribed by Police. Sousa said no, but when asked if he had been intimidated by anyone Sousa said: "Ya boy Vernon talking 'bout if I snitch or whatever, he's going to fu**ing kill me."

The jury heard Police asked for Sousa to be remanded to the Co-Ed facility instead of Westgate at his first court hearing because they were concerned the other two defendants might try to harm him.

Sousa's lawyer Charles Richardson also raised the point that his client was 17 at the time of questioning and had asked for his lawyer at one point during the interview, though he continued the taped interview without Mr. Richardson, saying he "wanted to tell the truth".

Mr. Clarke, 31, was found dead in bed at his home in North Shore Road, Pembroke, on the afternoon of Wednesday April 9, 2008. He had suffered 26 stab wounds and head injuries inflicted with what is believed to be a metal pipe.