IT worker accused of poisoning couple 'put a metal tack in medica…

An IT worker accused of poisoning the couple who employed him put a metal tack in medication he gave the wife, a court was told today.

Luke D'Wit, 34, is alleged to have murdered Stephen and Carol Baxter by making them unwittingly ingest a powerful painkiller.

Just over a year before their deaths, a 17mm-long tack was found in Mrs Baxter's digestive system after she had a scan for abdominal pain.

D'Wit admitted yesterday that similar tacks, along with opened medicine capsules, were found by police inside a rucksack in the bedroom the computer 'nerd' shared with his mother.

Prosecutor Tracy Ayling KC, who said D'Wit had his own bed with blue sheets while his mother had pink sheets, asked the defendant: 'What are they doing in a rucksack at the end of your bed?'




Luke D'Wit (pictured), 34, is alleged to have murdered Stephen and Carol Baxter by making them unwittingly ingest a powerful painkiller





Just over a year before their deaths, a 17mm-long tack was found in Mrs Baxter's digestive system after she had a scan for abdominal pain (pictured: Stephen and Carol Baxter)





Ellie Baxter, the daughter of Stephen and Carol Baxter, who she found dead at their home in West Mersea, Essex, on Easter Sunday last year, leaves Chelmsford Crown Court, Essex

He claimed the bag belonged to Mr Baxter, 61, and his 64-year-old wife, who employed him at their firm which sold fitted bath mats, and that he had taken it for safekeeping after their deaths.

D'Wit, who claims he helped Mrs Baxter with her medication, also told Chelmsford Crown Court in Essex that he had never looked in the rucksack - although he admitted he might have put a birthday card addressed to him inside it.

Ms Ayling also described how capsules of Night Nurse medicine were found in D'Wit's home in West Mersea, saying: 'You rather specialise in opening up tablets and filling them up.

'You were even opening up tablets like this and emptying out the contents and that is what you gave Carol on this occasion, when you gave her a tack in a tablet like the ones you had in the rucksack at the end of your bed.'

D'Wit denied the accusation but said he sometimes opened up Night Nurse capsules to pour the contents into drinks he had at bedtime to help him sleep.




The home of the millionaire tycoon husband and wife in Essex where their bodies were found 





Stephen Baxter, 61, and his 64-year-old wife Carol, who were found dead sitting in their individual armchairs in their conservatory on Easter Sunday - April 9 - last year











The bodies of Stephen, 61, and Carol Baxter, 64, were found at their home in Mersea Island, Essex, on April 9 last year

Mr and Mrs Baxter were found dead at their million-pound house on Mersea Island by their daughter Ellie, 22, and her partner on April 9 last year. 

Tests showed they had fentanyl in their systems, a prescription opioid that was also found at D'Wit's house.

During the trial, the defendant - who denies murder - has admitted creating fake online personas, including doctors who suggested treatments for Mrs Baxter's thyroid condition and other ailments - although he said this was at the request of Mr Baxter to encourage his wife to take medication.

Ms Ayling yesterday highlighted an April 6 email from a fake liver doctor in which Mr and Mrs Baxter were told to drink hot water containing Aspirin and lemon juice.

She said: Fuugu Scam 'You were encouraging them both to take the drink because you were planning to slip something into it.'

The trial continues.