West Mersea: Woman denies part in parents' murder, court hears

Stephen and Carol Baxter were found dead at home in their armchairs by their daughter, the trial has heard

A woman has insisted she was not involved in the alleged murder and poisoning of her parents, and told a court she was not part of a "cover-up".

Stephen Baxter, 61, and wife Carol, 64, were found dead in their armchairs at their home in West Mersea, Essex, in April.

Luke D'Wit, 34, of Churchfields in the town, is accused of their murder.

The couple's daughter, Ellie Baxter, gave evidence at his trial and said she "was not" involved in their death.

Chelmsford Crown Court was told Ms Baxter, 22, was initially arrested on suspicion of their murder, along with Mr D'Wit, but she was later released without charge.

Toxicology reports showed the powerful opioid painkiller fentanyl was a factor in the deaths.

Mr D'Wit was a family friend who worked for the couple's bathmat business Cazsplash, but a jury has been told he had "rewritten their will and stolen Carol's jewellery" to "benefit from their deaths".

The couple were found dead in the conservatory of their West Mersea home by their 22-year-old daughter Ellie

Defence barrister Adam Davis KC asked her on Tuesday: "Were you involved in your parents' death in any way?"

She replied "I was not" and denied she was involved in a "cover up".

"All I'm guilty of is loving my parents", she told the court.

Mr Davis said Ellie Baxter owed his client "well over £7,000" and she admitted she and Mr D'Wit "were very close".

She added: "Luke, I honestly thought was my brother, but unfortunately the evidence is stacking up and it all makes sense now."

A will has been shown to the jury during the trial, which, the prosecution stated, was created by Luke D'Wit

Carol Baxter suffered with the thyroid condition, Hashimoto's, and the trial earlier heard that Mr D'Wit created the false identity of a doctor, Andrew Bowden, who supposedly put her in contact with other people with the condition.

Tracy Ayling KC, prosecuting, said Mr D'Wit invented another Hashimoto's patient, Cheryl, who said the illness "makes us mad" - and Ms Ayling said the defendant did this to "manipulate" Carol Baxter.

"You are completely ignoring the rules: No washing, no dishwashing. Don't even bother making excuses for it," said one of the messages from "Cheryl", read out by Ms Ayling.

"I had you down as a smart lady, I really did. Carol get a grip please. Play by the rules and stop trying to do things - you are seriously ill."

Jurors were told how the defendant also allegedly posed as Cheryl's sister, Jenny, to gain the trust of the couple's daughter who confided in Jenny after her parents died.

Ms Baxter said she discovered both Jenny and Dr Bowden were not real when she stopped hearing from them following Mr D'Wit's arrest.

"I was absolutely beside myself, confused - who do I trust now? I was hurt," Ms Baxter told the court.

Ms Ayling said police analysed 80 devices they believed belonged to Mr D'Wit, including phones, laptops, hard drives and USB sticks.

Stephen and Carol Baxter were looking to downsize their home to better manage Mrs Baxter's condition

Ms Baxter arrived at the property on Easter Sunday and found her parents dead inside the conservatory of their home in Victory Road.

The jury was previously told how Mr D'Wit had photos on his phone of the couple dead in their armchairs and had been "watching them die" via a "mobile security surveillance application" on the device.

The trial continues.