A man has been accused of behaving like a ‘primal, alpha male, silverback gorilla’ before being fatally stabbed in a Newport street, a court has heard. Lee Crewe, 36, died after being knifed by David Sisman in Chepstow Road, Maindee. Sisman claims he acted in self-defence, admitting to stabbing Crewe but denying the murder charge. Sisman’s barrister argued that Crewe was aggressive and intended to rob Sisman of drugs, citing text messages and CCTV footage showing Crewe’s volatile behaviour leading up to the incident. The prosecution, however, maintains that Crewe posed no physical threat to Sisman before the stabbing occurred.
Sisman, who was found selling drugs and carrying a knife at the time of the incident, argued that he feared for his safety when he stabbed Crewe, who was described as a ‘roiling cauldron of boastful fury’. The court heard about Crewe’s history of violence and drug abuse, with his behaviour on the day of his death deemed as aggressive and erratic. Despite Crewe’s troubled past, the defence asserted that Sisman’s actions were a response to the perceived threat.
The prosecutor, on the other hand, criticised Sisman for not providing a clear explanation for his actions and for choosing not to testify in court. The trial continues as the jury deliberates on the circumstances surrounding Crewe’s death and Sisman’s claim of self-defence. The case highlights the complexities of self-defence laws and the need for a thorough examination of evidence to determine the intent and justification behind violent acts.