Man found GUILTY of murdering married couple in Mersea Island
Luke D'Wit has been found unanimously guilty by a jury, 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
Last updated 20th Mar 2024
A man's been found Guilty of the murders of a married couple in Essex.
Luke D'Wit has been found unanimously guilty by a jury, 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 Easter Sunday last year.
Toxicology reports for both Mr and Mrs Baxter later showed fentanyl had been a factor in both deaths.
D'Wit had denied murdering the couple, whilst on trial at Chelmsford Crown Court.
The court heard initial closing speeches last Friday, which continued yesterday and today.
The Jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict.
Essex Police have previously 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, arrests took place.
At an inquest, which was opened and adjourned in Chelmsford last 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".
D'Wit will be sentenced at a date yet to be set.
We'll continue to provide updates as we get more details.