The Crown yesterday concluded its evidence in the Matthew Clarke murder trial.

The Supreme Court jury was told of telephone calls made between defendants Vernon Simons and Kyle Sousa, and Simons and Shannon Tucker.

Senior Crown counsel Carrington Mahoney also detailed calls made to Mr. Clarke's home by Simons and Tucker.

Simons, 23, Sousa, 18, and Tucker, 32, all deny killing Mr. Clarke at his home in North Shore Road, Pembroke, on the afternoon of April 9 last year.

The 31-year-old was found dead in bed by his girlfriend and the mother of his two children, Charlitta Spencer, shortly after 3 p.m. He had suffered 26 stab wounds and nine blows to his head from a metal bar.

Yesterday, two detectives in the case Detective Sergeant Dennis Astwood and Detective Sergeant Windol Thorpe, gave evidence at the Supreme Court.

Charles Richardson, Sousa's lawyer, asked Det. Sgt. Astwood whether he had failed to inform Sousa of his right to a lawyer when officers drove him to Hamilton Police Station for questioning.

"At no time did you offer him an opportunity to speak to a lawyer, did you?," said Mr. Richardson.

"No, my Lord," Det. Sgt. Astwood told Puisne Judge Carlisle Greaves.

"But he had been arrested, hadn't he, arrested for murder?," said Mr. Richardson.

Det. Sgt. Astwood replied: "He was advised of his rights."

Explaining Police procedure, he said: "We caution people, we advise people of their rights.

"When someone is taken into custody they are taken to a Police station where there is a custody procedure on arrival, which includes the opportunity to contact lawyers."

Mr. Mahoney then told the jury that when Police read out the charge of the murder of Mr. Clarke and cautioned Tucker, at 6.35 p.m. on April 14 at Hamilton Police Station, he "made no reply". Simons also made "no reply".

Mr. Mahoney asked Det. Sgt. Thorpe what Sousa said when he was read out the charge of murder and cautioned, at 6.40 p.m. the same day.

Det. Sgt. Thorpe told the court Sousa said: "I have to call me lawyer, boy."

The case was adjourned until Monday morning, when the case for the defence will commence.