Mersea murder trial defendant 'a really lovely bloke' court hears

On the sixteenth day of the Mersea murder trial, the defence called three character witnesses to give evidence to the jury.

Emma Hollis, Christopher Thompson, and Carla Amey all gave evidence from the witness box and were questioned by defence counsel Michael Stradling.

D’Wit, of Churchfields, West Mersea, denies murdering Stephen and Carol Baxter last year.

Trial - the jury is expected to retire later this week to start work on delivering a verdict (Image: Essex Police)

Emma Hollis, an instructor at Outdoor Active, told the court on Monday how she and D’Wit had delivered sunflower and poppy seeds around Mersea island as part of their charity work.

D’Wit, she said, had been “friendly, kind, and honest” when they volunteered together.

She said: “When I joined local gym, he was there and was the first one to welcome me – he went to the gym six days a week and helped with charity work.

“He’s friendly, kind, honest, really considerate – just a really lovely bloke.”

She continued: “I’ve helped him with his charity work before when he was delivering sunflower seeds around the island.

“There was an elderly man, and Luke was the first one to worry about him tripping.

“He is really friendly and welcoming to anyone.”

A childhood friend of D’Wit’s, Christopher Thompson, described the defendant as “a very kind person [who has] always been there as a friend for me".

Together - Stephen and Carol Baxter were found dead in their West Mersea home last year (Image: Press Association)

Carla Amey, who was the final character witness to give evidence to Chelmsford Crown Court, told the jury how D’Wit had been a shy character when he first volunteered for the Mersea Carnival Association.

She said: “He was part of the Mersea Carnival Association; latterly, he has become a family friend.

“He brings the best out of those children despite the fact he is a very shy individual.

“When he first joined and came to meetings [of the Mersea Carnival Association], he wouldn’t say a single thing.

“It would take a long time for him to speak out.”

It is expected the final witness to give evidence will do so on Tuesday, before the prosecution and defence give their closing speeches later this week.

The trial continues.