MURDER accused Sheldon McKay fought hand-to-hand with Alinjavwa Siwale after picking up a hunting knife dropped during a melee, a court heard.

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.

Giles Cockings QC suggested Phoenix Lee and McKay had arrived at the brothers’ house in Affleck Road, Greenstead, to speak with them.

He asked Suwi if he and his brother had become paranoid they had been “snitched upon” following a police raid.

Mr Cockings suggested after he was refused entry, Lee kicked in the door and met Alinjavwa on the stairway of the house.

He took the jury to Suwi’s first of four interviews with the police, where he said he thought intruders had tried coming up the stairs, before adding: “I was throwing stuff to try and back them off”.

Mr Cockings said: “I suggest your brother lashed out at Phoenix Lee, who was coming up the stairs, and he did so with a knife in his hand, did you see your brother lash out?”

Mr Cockings suggested Alinjavwa struck Lee in the face whilst holding a knife, before Lee fell down the stairs.

He said while Alinjavwa “towered over” Lee, McKay stepped in to defend him.

He suggested McKay picked up a hunting knife dropped by Alinjavwa and the pair fought, first in the hall and then in the kitchen, where the fatal blows were delivered.

Mr Cockings took Alinjavwa’s brother Suwi and the jury through the pair’s list of previous convictions.

He said Alinjavwa was convicted in May 2016 of two offences of possession with intent to supply heroin and crack cocaine and possession of a stun gun.

He said: “Over and above the incident with the drugs and the stun gun, there was another occasion on April 9, 2016, where he and another man chased and attacked an unarmed man in the street, punching and kicking him in the face, were you aware of that?

“Your brother on that occasion pulled the victim’s trousers and pants down and demanded cash or drugs, do you remember that?

“The man tried to run away, but your brother chased him, stabbed him twice, once in the back causing a punctured lung and once in the hip or thigh, that’s correct isn’t it?

“I suggest you know about it, because your brother was convicted of GBH and received a significant prison sentence, so you must have been aware of it because he wasn’t around for a bit.

“I suggest your brother was a violent drug dealer, who was prepared to use weapons on others, including knives.”

He asked Suwi about his own convictions, which include being concerned in the supply of cannabis in November 2020 and a conviction for possession of a knife in April this year.

He said the pair had signed a criminal behaviour order prohibiting them from having children at the property.

He said: “The fact is, wouldn’t you agree, you and your brother were running a drugs business using young children as workers and suppliers?

“Further, that you and your brother were not only familiar with the drugs world, but you had tried to make a name for yourselves in the drug supply business, that’s right isn’t it?”

Jason Bartfeld QC, defending McKay, put to Suwi there was no evidence to suggest the brothers knew his client at all.

He added: “If you and your brother were not the aggressors in this event, give this jury one reason why you wont come into that witness box, or even over this videolink, and give that evidence.”

As with all other questions put in cross-examination, Suwi answered: “No comment.”

Mr Bartfeld said: “The only good reason is you don’t want the truth to be exposed, isn’t it?”

He suggested McKay had defended himself and Lee with a knife he had picked up.