Benjamin Field, 28, admits he “gaslighted” Ann Moore-Martin, 83, as part of a plot to benefit from her will after her death.
He had declared his love for the retired head teacher in a series of letters, postcards and poems during a year-long seduction – even though she was 57 years his senior.
Field, the son of a Baptist minister, denies conspiring with his magician friend Martyn Smith, 32, to murder Miss Moore-Martin.
Prosecutors allege Field targeted the deeply religious spinster a few months after allegedly murdering her neighbour Peter Farquhar, 69.
Field, an English literature student at the University of Buckingham, also left messages written on mirrors in her home purporting to be from God, as part of his gaslighting campaign.
Oxford Crown Court heard that Miss Moore-Martin was admitted to hospital in February 2017, having suffered a seizure.
The following month she was readmitted to hospital after suffering a further seizure. In May she died from natural causes following a stroke.
Miss Moore-Martin changed her will to leave her home in Maids Moreton, Buckinghamshire to Field, but changed her mind shortly before she died and alleged Field had poisoned her by giving her “white powder”.
David Jeremy QC, defending Field, asked him: “Were you the cause of her illnesses?”
Field, who was giving evidence for a sixth day, replied: “No, no way at all.”
Mr Jeremy asked:…
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