Man accused of Mersea Island Murders has good sense of 'right' and 'wrong', court told
Luke D'Wit is accused of poisoning 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
An IT worker accused of murdering a married couple by poisoning them with fentanyl has a "good sense of what's right and wrong" and helped with the local carnival, a trial has heard.
Luke D'Wit is accused of poisoning 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 Easter Sunday last year.
D'Wit, 34, of West Mersea, denies the murders of Mr and Mrs Baxter, and is on trial at Chelmsford Crown Court.
Heidi Cornish, who was called by the defence as a character witness, told jurors she had known D'Wit for "about 14 years" and recalled when he first took part in a meeting of the Mersea carnival association.
She said he also helped at a soup kitchen.
"He loves to be involved where people need help," said Ms Cornish.
She said that D'Wit "had been fairly sheltered" and described him as "more of a homebird".
Ms Cornish said she had been to D'Wit's home after his father died and "he said dad was a great hoarder".
"We opened sheds in the back, it was a mix of old things, new things," she said.
Ms Cornish said D'Wit has a "good sense of what's right and wrong".
Mr and Mrs Baxter's son-in-law Andrew Culver, who is married to Mrs Baxter's daughter Rachel, also gave evidence.
The court heard Mrs Baxter had four children - two from a previous relationship and two with Mr Baxter.
Mr Culver, who was assisted in court by a sign language interpreter, said he was asked to be an executor of Mr and Mrs Baxters' will around late 2021 to early 2022.
He was asked by Adam Davis KC, defending, about his impression of the couple's daughter Ellie Baxter after their death.
"It seemed to me she was more focused on property and money rather than 'oh I miss you mum and dad', as this was someone who had lost both their parents," he said.
Prosecutor Tracy Ayling KC asked Mr Culver about conversations with the couple's daughter Ellie in which he was seeking details about a solicitor in his role as an executor.
Ms Ayling said to Mr Culver: "Ellie was telling you there was a solicitor but she didn't know the details did she, which was why you were texting Mr D'Wit to ask for them."
Mr Culver said: "Ellie told me Luke had the details, so I texted Luke on the back of that conversation."
The trial continues, with jurors told they will not be required on Thursday and asked to return on Friday.