A man has denied murdering a husband and wife who were found dead with fentanyl in their bodies.

Luke D’Wit, 34, of Churchfields, West Mersea, pleaded not guilty at Chelmsford Crown Court to the murders of Stephen Baxter, 61, and Carol Baxter, 64, in April this year.

The married couple were directors of Cazsplash, a firm which makes shower mats and bathroom accessories.

Their bodies were discovered at their home on Mersea Island in Essex on 9 April.

The defendant also denied the theft of jewellery belonging to Mrs Baxter on or before 6 July.

D’Wit, who appeared in court via a video link from Chelmsford Prison on Monday, also denied a count of possessing a class A drug, fentanyl, on 16 July.

The defendant, who wore a short-sleeved shirt and remained seated throughout the hearing, spoke to confirm his identity, to confirm he could hear proceedings and to enter his not guilty pleas.

He also confirmed he understood the directions of Judge Christopher Morgan, who remanded him in custody until his trial, which is due to start on 12 February next year.

Essex Police said officers were called to the address in Victory Road on Mersea Island by the ambulance service, with the Baxters’ deaths initially treated as unexpected and not suspicious.

As a result of an investigation and toxicology analysis, two men and a woman were arrested on 6 July, the force said.

Police later confirmed a woman and a man have since been released on bail.

Read more on Sky News:
Warnings as Storm Agnes set to bring 80mph winds

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

At an inquest, which was opened and adjourned in Chelmsford earlier this year, Mrs Baxter’s provisional medical cause of death was given as “combined fentanyl and promethazine toxicity with terminal bronchopneumonia”.

Mr Baxter’s provisional medical cause of death was stated as “cardiomegaly and alcoholic liver disease with fentanyl intoxication”.

Related posts:

Ryan Giggs pleads not guilty in first court appearance after being charged with assault Brentford promoted to Premier League after winning ‘football’s richest game’ Chelsea crowned Champions League winners as they deny Man City first title in all-English final Who is Carrie Symonds? The PM’s new wife whose influence inside No 10 is under scrutiny Britons pack beaches and parks as bank holiday set to bring hottest day of the year so far UK had to turn on coal power plant to help National Grid cope with low winds How does social care work now and how will it change? Woman arrested on suspicion of murder of two-year-old boy Heat warnings as parts of the UK prepare for temperatures close to 30C today People risking ‘food poisoning’ by turning off fridges to save money Camilla donates Paddington bears left in tribute to the Queen to Barnardo’s ‘Nothing’ in Nicola Bulley’s medical records to suggest she was suicidal