‘Fentanyl killer’ rewrote will, court hears

‘He had stolen Carol’s jewellery, among many other things, to benefit from their deaths’

AN alleged double murderer poisoned a married couple with the opioid fentanyl and rewrote their will, a court heard.

Luke D’wit, 34, befriended and worked for millionaires Stephen and Carol Baxter, who he said treated him like an “adopted son”, jurors were told.

The couple were found unresponsive and slumped in chairs in their home in West Mersea, Essex, on Easter Sunday by their daughter.

Their deaths were initially treated as unexpected and not suspicious before Mr D’wit was later charged with their murders.

Chelmsford Crown Court heard that Mr Baxter, 61, and his wife, 64, ran a bathmat company.

Tracy Ayling, prosecuting, told the court that suspicion arose after a “fake will” appeared after the Baxters’ death, giving Mr D’wit “significant control”. The couple’s original will had stated that the Baxters’ money would be left to their four children. The prosecution said the new will was written the day after the Baxters died.

“He [Mr D’wit] had rewritten their will and stolen Carol’s jewellery, among many other things, to benefit from their deaths,” said Ms Ayling.

The will stated that Cazplash was to “continue trading in whichever way is planned” and added that Mr D’wit “is to be the person of significant control”.

A post-mortem examination gave a provisional cause of death for Mrs Baxter as combined fentanyl and promethazine toxicity with terminal bronchopneumonia. The provisional cause of death for Mr Baxter was cardiomegaly and alcoholic liver disease with fentanyl intoxication.

The trial continues.