THE daughter of a couple who were found dead inside their Mersea home has said her family found the man on trial for their murder "a bit weird". 

Ellena Baxter appeared in court on Monday to give evidence as part of the trial of Luke D'Wit, who is accused of poisoning her parents Stephen and Carol Baxter.

After taking the stand she told the jury at Chelmsford Crown Court about her family’s relationship with D’Wit, 34, who denies two counts of murder.

The court heard last week how D’Wit, of Churchfields, West Mersea, befriended the Baxters around 2013 and helped the two set up a website for their shower mat business, Cazsplash.

Gazette: Family - Mr and Mrs Baxter had run the Cazsplash business togetherFamily - Mr and Mrs Baxter had run the Cazsplash business together (Image: Press Association)

It is alleged D’Wit, who has appeared in the dock sitting in a wheelchair, poisoned the Baxters in April last year and re-wrote their will so he could inherit the business.

Miss Baxter told the court that although her family found D’Wit “a bit weird”, Mrs Baxter had relied on him for aspects of her healthcare as she tried to cope with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.

Answering questions from prosecuting lawyer Tracy Ayling, Miss Baxter said: “I got on pretty well with Luke – there was a lot going on all the time, my parents would be irritated that he was there a lot, but then he was there all the time.

"They did think he was a bit weird, but we all just thought he was just nerdy weird – he was always into his technology.

“Towards the end, my mum was quite reliant on him – she wasn’t able to cope with day-to-day tasks and she wasn’t allowed to walk on her own.

“She would be allowed walks if Luke was with her so she was watched and safe.”

Miss Baxter also told the court how D’Wit had three separate phones and never let anyone inside his house.

Gazette: Investigation - police were on the scene on Easter Sunday last yearInvestigation - police were on the scene on Easter Sunday last year (Image: Essex Police)

When asked whether she had been to his address, she replied: “No one was ever allowed inside, but I have been outside his house."

When asked about the number of phones he had, she replied: “He had three phones – at one stage he lent me an iPhone 8 for about six months.”

As Mrs Baxter’s health declined, D’Wit would go round to the Baxters’ house in Victory Road every day, Miss Baxter added.

The trial continues.