Three people charged with the first-degree murder of a Spaniard’s Bay man made court appearances in Harbour Grace this afternoon.

The two men and a woman are accused of killing the 42-year-old victim, whose name has not been released, then setting fire to the pickup he was in to dispose of the remains.

Forty-one-year-old Matthew Kavanagh and 28-year-old Stephanie Noftall, both of Harbour Grace, and 34-year-old Terry Cole of Carbonear face one count each of first-degree murder and indecently or improperly interfering with a body.

(Police recently released this short video of a four-door greyish-brown 2012 Honda Civic which may have been involved in the crime.)

The remains were found in the burned-out truck on Sept. 30 on Country Road in Bay Roberts. That was followed five days later by the arrests of the suspects at a home on Gardner Place in Harbour Grace. The Saturday night drama forced area residents to shelter in place for hours as police surrounded the home until the three were coaxed out and taken into custody without incident.

They appeared in Harbour Grace provincial court this afternoon by video from HMP in St. John’s and the women’s correctional centre in Clarenville, but little was accomplished beyond confirming each has now been assigned a Legal Aid lawyer.

They’re also prohibited from contacting a half dozen people on a witness list, as well as each other, while the case proceeds.

It’s still in the very early stages, though, with the Crown noting they have yet to receive the first batch of disclosure from police.

The suspects, with their new lawyers, are due back in court on Nov. 5.