A RAPPER’S tracks were picked apart in court by a barrister who suggested the lyrics portrayed a drug dealer who “glorified” knife violence.

Alinjavwa Siwale, 22, also known as Mr Essex and Swizzino, died in the kitchen of his Colchester home on December 11 last year after suffering stab wounds.

Phoenix Lee, 19, and Sheldon McKay, 25, deny murder after CCTV footage showed the pair entering the home with force shortly after midnight.

During a trial at Chelmsford Crown Court, barristers representing the pair put questions to Alinjavwa’s brother, Suwi, who was present in the house at the time of the stabbing.

The jury were told the trial had suffered delays due to Suwi’s refusal to give evidence in person.

Instead he was permitted to appear over videolink from HMP Elmley, where he is a serving prisoner.

Across more than one and a half hours of cross-examination today, Suwi answered “no comment” to all questions asked.

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Giles Cockings QC, representing Lee, turned his focus to Alinjavwa’s music career, suggesting to Suwi his brother had rapped about “getting the chance to ambush” and “attack anyone”.

He further suggested the lyrics showed he was willing to stab people and “leave them bleeding” and that he made money selling crack cocaine.

He said Alinjavwa had rapped about stabbing Lee, who went by the street name Repo, as there had been a disagreement between them.

Addressing Suwi, Mr Cockings said: “I suggest the only disagreement there had been, with him as one of your drug dealers, was over a drug deal that went wrong.

“He had met you a week before the incident to pay you money for the selling of weed, which he had carried out on your behalf.

“Things only became awkward because he had introduced people to you who had heard of you and your brother and wanted to supply you, but apparently the quality wasn’t up to scratch and you had complaints. Your brother blamed Phoenix Lee for the introduction. Does that ring a bell?”

He added: “I suggest your brother was a violent man, who glorified in the use of knives hence these lyrics.

“I suggest in the kitchen he was found with another knife in his hand, and that there were a number of knives lying around the house.

“The one he was found with later was homemade.

“He had a large hunting knife before, which was dropped in a tussle, and he’d got himself another one, a homemade one this time wrapped in some dishcloth or something.”

  • The trial continues.