Mersea murder trial hears emergency responder statements

Luke D’Wit, 34, is charged with murdering Carol and Stephen Baxter in April last year in a continuing trial at Chelmsford Crown Court. 

On day five of the trial, the prosecution questioned PC Bradbrook, a police officer who questioned D’Wit at the scene, and Robert Boorman, a community volunteer first responder, who was called to the scene at Victory Road, West Mersea. 

Robert Boorman confirmed he was called to the Baxters’ home address in Victory Road on April 9, arriving prior to the ambulance after receiving an emergency call. 

Mr Boorman gave evidence of being let inside the house through the front door and led to two people sitting in the conservatory, surrounded by a lot of broken glass. 

He and his colleague checked the male’s and female’s pulses and recalled them being "cold to the touch" 

Mr Boorman said: "There was nothing we felt we could do for them." 

Carolyn Taylor, an Essex Police crime intelligence analyst, was called to the stand, helping to interpret the sequence of events and data taken from the Baxters’ mobile devices.  

She said she had spent seven months and “thousands of hours of work” on the case, analysing the data from a number of devices. 

The analysed data included phone call records, used apps and text messages, which were presented to the jury. 

A bank transaction from the Baxters’ account to their business account was noted on April 7, worth £6,000. 

Further messages showed how Stephen’s mother Irene and Ellena Baxter, their daughter, started to worry after not responding to their calls and messages. 

The court also heard how Ellena Baxter contacted an alleged friend of her parents, Jenny, who the prosecution says was a person made up by D’Wit. 

After hearing about the Baxters’ passing, Ellena Baxter received a message, praising D’Wit. 

“As an outsider, he is only thinking about your well-being," it said.

“I am happy to hear that Luke is with you."

The trial continues.