A person has denied murdering a husband and spouse who had been discovered lifeless with fentanyl of their our bodies.
Luke D’Wit, 34, of Churchfields, West Mersea, pleaded not responsible at Chelmsford Crown Court to the murders of Stephen Baxter, 61, and Carol Baxter, 64, in April this 12 months.
The married couple had been administrators of Cazsplash, a agency which makes bathe mats and loo equipment.
Their our bodies had been found at their dwelling on Mersea Island in Essex on 9 April.
The defendant additionally denied the theft of jewelry belonging to Mrs Baxter on or earlier than 6 July.
D’Wit, who appeared in court docket through a video hyperlink from Chelmsford Prison on Monday, additionally denied a rely of possessing a category A drug, fentanyl, on 16 July.
The defendant, who wore a short-sleeved shirt and remained seated all through the listening to, spoke to substantiate his identification, to substantiate he might hear proceedings and to enter his not responsible pleas.
He additionally confirmed he understood the instructions of Judge Christopher Morgan, who remanded him in custody till his trial, which is because of begin on 12 February subsequent 12 months.
Essex Police mentioned officers had been referred to as to the tackle in Victory Road on Mersea Island by the ambulance service, with the Baxters’ deaths initially handled as sudden and never suspicious.
As a results of an investigation and toxicology evaluation, two males and a girl had been arrested on 6 July, the pressure mentioned.
Police later confirmed a girl and a person have since been launched on bail.
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At an inquest, which was opened and adjourned in Chelmsford earlier this 12 months, Mrs Baxter’s provisional medical reason behind loss of life was given as “combined fentanyl and promethazine toxicity with terminal bronchopneumonia”.
Mr Baxter’s provisional medical reason behind loss of life was said as “cardiomegaly and alcoholic liver disease with fentanyl intoxication”.
Source: information.sky.com”