Man denies murders of married Mersea Island couple found with Fentanyl in their system
Luke D'Wit, 34, of Churchfields, faces a trial next year
A man has denied the murders of a husband and wife who were found dead with the powerful synthetic painkiller fentanyl in their system and is facing a trial next year
Luke D'Wit, 34, pleaded not guilty at Chelmsford Crown Court to the murders of Stephen Baxter, 61, and Carol Baxter, 64, between April 6 and April 10 of this year.
The bodies of the married couple, who were directors of Cazsplash, a firm that produces shower mats and bathroom accessories, were discovered at their home in Mersea Island in Essex on April 9.
The bearded defendant, of Churchfields, West Mersea, denied the theft of jewellery belonging to Mrs Baxter on or before July 6.
D'Wit, who appeared by video-link from Chelmsford Prison on Monday, also denied a count of possessing a class A drug, fentanyl, on July 16.
The defendant, who wore a short-sleeved shirt and remained seated throughout the hearing, spoke to confirm his identity, to confirm he could hear proceedings and to enter his not guilty pleas.
He also confirmed he understood the directions of Judge Christopher Morgan, who remanded him in custody until his trial, which is due to start on February 12 next year and to last around four weeks.
Essex Police said officers were called to the address in Victory Road in Mersea Island by the ambulance service, with the Baxters' deaths initially treated as unexpected and not suspicious.
However, as a result of an investigation and toxicology analysis, two men and a woman were arrested on July 6, the force said.
At an inquest, which was opened and adjourned in Chelmsford earlier this year, Carol Baxter's provisional medical cause of death was given as "combined fentanyl and promethazine toxicity with terminal bronchopneumonia".
Stephen Baxter's provisional medical cause of death was stated as "cardiomegaly and alcoholic liver disease with fentanyl intoxication".
A woman and a man have been released on bail.