A MAN has denied murdering a millionaire couple who were found dead with a powerful painkiller in their system.
Stephen Baxter, 61, and wife Carol, 64, were discovered at their home in Mersea Island, Essex, on April 9.
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Stephen and Carol Baxter were found dead at their home Credit: East Anglia News Service
Luke D'Wit appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court today where he denied two counts of murder.
The 34-year-old also pleaded not guilty to the theft of jewellery belonging to Carol on or before July 6.
D'Wit denied a further count of possessing a class A drug, fentanyl, on July 16.
He was remanded into custody ahead of a provisional trial date of February 12 next year.
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Police initially treated the couple's deaths as unexpected and not suspicious.
But following toxicology analysis, two men and a woman were arrested on July 6.
An inquest heard how Carol's cause of death was given as "combined fentanyl and promethazine toxicity with terminal bronchopneumonia".
While her husband died from "cardiomegaly and alcoholic liver disease with fentanyl intoxication".
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Fentanyl is a strong opioid painkiller used to treat severe pain and is only available on prescription. It is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine.
Carol and Stephen were joint directors of bath and shower mat firm Cazsplash.
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Police were called to the couple's home on April 9 Credit: East Anglia News Service 3
Fentanyl was found in Carol's system Credit: East Anglia News Service