Mersea murder defendant told police he was Carol's 'closest friend'

Luke D’Wit, of Churchfields, West Mersea, denies murdering Stephen and Carol Baxter, who had lethal levels of fentanyl – which is a powerful painkiller – in their systems when they died.

On the 10th day of the murder trial on Thursday, the prosecution read to the court a statement which D’Wit made to police on Sunday, April 9 – the day the Baxters were found dead.

In that statement, D’Wit told the police he was not alarmed by the fact there was blood running from Mr and Mrs Baxters’ nose, because it was “part of the dying process”.

Trial - the case is being heard in Chelmsford Crown Court (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest)

He said: “When I entered the house, there was an odd smell, though it didn’t alarm me straight away, as I assumed it was because of Stephen and Carol passing away.

“They looked peaceful.

“The substance [blood on their face] did not alarm me as I knew they were dead and this is part of the dying process,” he added.

D’Wit then provided a further statement on May 25, when he described himself as “probably one of Carol’s closest friends”.

He said: “Carol and Stephen moved to Mersea from London in September 2010.

“Steve didn’t have any friends on the island and kept himself to himself.

“I was probably Carol’s closest friend – I would describe Carol as a very close friend and almost like I was an adopted son for both of them.”

Earlier in the trial, Mr and Mrs Baxters’ daughter, Ellena Baxter, described D’Wit as being like a brother, saying: "I honestly thought Luke was my brother - I really, really did."

Questioned - D'Wit spoke to police on the day the Baxters were found dead (Image: Essex Police)

The court also heard evidence from Dr Nigel Langford, a consultant physician who analysed the toxicology reports prepared after the Baxters’ death.

He explained the levels of fentanyl which were found in the Baxters’ blood after their death would have been lethal due to the fact they would not have had tolerance to the drug.

Promethazine, a type of anti-histamine, was also found in Mrs Baxters’ blood sample, with Dr Langford saying a combination with fentanyl would have resulted in a much higher level of sedation.

The trial continues.