Mersea murder trial jury sent out to begin deliberations

Stephen and Carol Baxter were discovered unresponsive at their seaside home in April 2023

Jurors have started their deliberations in the trial of an IT worker accused of murdering a married couple with the opioid painkiller fentanyl.

Luke D'Wit is accused of murdering Stephen Baxter, 61, and his 64-year-old wife Carol, and rewriting their will to make him a director of their shower mat firm Cazsplash.

The couple were found dead at their home in West Mersea, Essex, by their daughter Ellie on 9 April last year.

Mr D'Wit denies murdering the Baxters.

Tracy Ayling KC, prosecuting, said in her closing argument that Mr D'Wit murdered the couple "calmly, coolly and in a way which had been entirely planned".

She told Chelmsford Crown Court that following his arrest, a bag containing both opened and unopened fentanyl patches was found at Mr D'Wit's home, which he shared with his mother.

"There can only be one purpose for having these and that's to fool someone into believing they were taking a proper dose when they were actually taking four times the amount," Ms Ayling said.

Luke D'Wit spoke to police officers outside the Baxters' house after they were found dead

Adam Davis KC, defending, told the jury that Mr D'Wit was "a man of good character".

"He's been described as decent, honest, reliable, trustworthy," Mr Davis said.

"He helped out at soup kitchens, he helped out at the Mersea Carnival - he wasn't bothered about money."

The barrister added that Mr D'Wit, of Churchfields, West Mersea, gave evidence "politely, fluently and coherently".

The couple were found dead in the conservatory by their daughter

The judge, Mr Justice Lavender, summed up evidence in the case to jurors earlier before sending them out to start considering their verdicts.

He told them they were under no pressure of time.

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