Three men accused of murdering Matthew Clarke on April 9 will go on trial on March 2 next year.

Kyle Sousa, 18, Vernon Michael Simons, 23, and Shannon Jerome Vincent Tucker, 32, pleaded not guilty when they appeared at Supreme Court yesterday.

The trio, who are from Adams Lane, Warwick, North Street, Pembroke and Middle Road, Southampton respectively were remanded into custody until the trial.

Mr. Clarke, a 31-year-old songwriter and producer, was rushed to hospital after being found in an unresponsive state at his home on North Shore Road, Pembroke, on the afternoon of April 9. He was pronounced dead soon afterwards.

In another case during the monthly arraignment session at Supreme Court, Tyrone Simmons, 34, denied causing bodily harm to Elton Planes by driving a car recklessly on April 13.

He also pleaded guilty to a further charge, of causing actual bodily harm to Dayvon Tucker by driving the same vehicle recklessly or dangerously on Church Street, Pembroke, on the same date.

The defendant, from Southampton, will stand trial on November 17.

A Canadian national, Patrick Anthony Howe, of North York, Ontario, pleaded guilty to importing the drugs methamphetamine and ketamine on July 7, 2008. However, he denied possessing those drugs with intent to supply them on the same date.

Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Michael McColm told the court he needed time to consider how to proceed with the case. Puisne Judge Carlisle Greaves therefore ordered Howe, 41, to return to court for a further hearing next Monday, and remanded him into custody in the meantime.

Christopher Pond, 41, of Watlington Lane, Devonshire, pleaded not guilty to wounding Howard William Charles with intent on March 31 this year. His trial was set for February 23, 2009 and he was bailed until then.

A trial date could not be set in the case of Terrence Smith, 48, who is accused of defrauding the Bermuda Housing Corporation, because defence lawyer Llewellyn Peniston said he has not had disclosure of all the documents he wishes Crown Counsel Robert Welling to provide.

Mr. Welling told the court he views some of the documents as irrelevant and that he will invite the judge to rule as such when a pre-trial review is held. Mr. Justice Greaves set the case for another mention on December 1 and bailed Smith until then.

Shannon Jerome Vincent Tucker and Vernon Michael Simons were brought back into the courtroom for a second time yesterday to face charges in a separate case.

They are accused of conspiring to import cannabis and ecstasy between a date unknown and January 8, 2008, which they both deny. They will stand trial on January 12, 2009.