By Lucy Caulkett-
The trial of Luke D’Wit, accused of poisoning an Essex couple, Carol and Stephen Baxter, (pictured) has taken a startling turn with the emergence of an alleged fake will naming D’Wit as the director of the couple’s company, Cazsplash.
The prosecution presents its case at Chelmsford Crown Court, shocking revelations about the suspicious circumstances surrounding the will have left the courtroom abuzz with intrigue and speculation.
D’Wit, a resident of Churchfields, stands accused of poisoning the Baxters with fentanyl at their home on Mersea Island in April 2023 before purportedly fabricating a new will in his favor.
The jury heard statements from Christopher Andrews, the solicitor who assisted the Baxters in drafting their initial will in September 2021, casting doubt on the authenticity of the alleged fake will.
According to Mr. Andrews, the Baxters had previously created and signed their will in 2021, and there had been no contact regarding any updates or changes before their untimely deaths.
Moreover, Mr. Andrews expressed skepticism about the validity of the purported will, describing it as “bullet-pointed” and lacking the coherence expected of a legal document.
He highlighted the absence of any logical basis for such a document and emphasized that neither Stephen nor Carol Baxter had made any contact about it. The alleged will, which purported to name D’Wit as the director of Cazsplash, raised suspicions about its origins and the motivations behind its creation.
In a compelling twist, evidence presented by Samantha Claxton of Essex Police shed further light on the financial transactions involving the Baxters and D’Wit’s accounts.
Ms. Claxton revealed several payments made from D’Wit’s accounts in the months leading up to the Baxters’ deaths, including a payment labeled “Luke D’Wit invoice” made after the couple’s demise. She also highlighted discrepancies in D’Wit’s financial records, including returned direct debit payments and a significant depletion of funds in his bank accounts.
The prosecution’s assertion that Cazsplash was a “failing company” by 2023 adds another layer of complexity to the case, with Ms. Claxton agreeing that the company had “significant” debts. The alleged fake will, coupled with the financial transactions involving D’Wit, paints a disturbing picture of potential motive and premeditation in the poisoning of the Baxters.