Stephen Baxter, 61, and his 64-year-old wife Carol were discovered deceased by their daughter Ellie at their residence in West Mersea, Essex, on Easter Sunday the previous year.
Accused of befriending the couple before poisoning them with the opioid painkiller fentanyl is Luke D’Wit, 34, of the same town.
The prosecution claims that D’Wit fabricated a false will for the Baxters on his phone, appointing himself as a director of their shower mat company – Cazsplash – shortly after their deaths on April 9, 2023.
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It is also claimed that D’Wit fabricated identities, such as a doctor, to communicate with Mrs. Baxter regarding her health issues.
During his trial for murder at Chelmsford Crown Court on Monday, the IT worker confessed to the act, claiming that Mr. Baxter had requested it and they would correspond via text or email.
One of the fabricated personas was ‘Cheryl’ – a fictional patient of Dr. Andrea Bowden, who was another invented identity designed to communicate with Mrs. Baxter regarding her thyroid condition.
Referring to ‘Cheryl’, D’Wit informed the jurors that Steve believed she required someone to confide in and share her concerns with, which could help alleviate her anxiety. We arranged for Carol to have someone to talk to.
When questioned about the fake ‘Dr Bowden’, the defendant stated: ‘The actual mechanics was me, but it was instructions from Stephen.’
D’Wit put forward another persona, Jenny, a theater producer who could assist the couple’s daughter Ellie, 22, in pursuing a career as a vocalist, was also Mr. Baxter’s ‘idea’.
According to him, Mr. Baxter would utilize a different false identity of a woman to persuade his wife to accompany him on trips due to their occasional disagreements.
Another fictional doctor was fabricated to provide advice to Mrs. Baxter regarding her digestive issues, according to the defendant.
D’Wit denied any ulterior motive behind the communications and identities, stating they were used by Mr Baxter to enhance his wife’s health and their relationship.
Defendant Manipulated Mrs. Baxter with Fake Identities
According to prosecutors, the defendant allegedly utilized fake identities to provide Mrs. Baxter with recommendations lacking any clinical basis, with the intention of manipulating her.
D’Wit recounted the scene when he discovered the Baxters in their home after their passing, noting their pallor and Mrs. Baxter’s condition.
The individual mentioned that upon reaching the residence, they noticed the conservatory door was broken, and Ms. Baxter was inside urgently requesting an ambulance.
D’Wit mentioned that he gathered medicines from around the house for the first responders, refuting any claims of seeing or taking fentanyl patches.
Jurors heard testimony that he witnessed the couple alive in their residence on April 7, mentioning that he had a conversation with Mr. Baxter regarding the business.
It was recently disclosed that D’Wit utilized an app on his phone to view the couple’s demise.
Tracy Ayling KC, who was prosecuting the case, mentioned that D’Wit had installed a ‘mobile security surveillance application’ on his phone.
According to her, this enabled him to keep an eye on a camera from a different device.
D’Wit maintains innocence regarding the murder and the trial is ongoing.
