THE parents of a talented academic who was found in her bloodstained home contacted police when they did not hear from their daughter for two days, a jury heard.

Michael Humphries, 43, of Ferndale Street, Faringdon, has denied killing Barbara Johnston, 55, in January and is standing trial at Oxford Crown Court.

The court has heard that Dr Johnston, a medical researcher, was found in her flat in Woodstock Close, North Oxford.

Her mother Valerie Johnston, in a statement read out in court by prosecutor Richard Latham, said Miss Johnston normally telephoned or emailed every day.

She said: "I believe the last time I spoke to Barbara was on the morning of Monday, January 23.

"We had a conversation about her ordering us a new fridge over the Internet.

"We would pay for it when it was ordered. We didn't receive a call saying she had received the fridge.

"This was not like Barbara."

Miss Johnston's father Anthony, who has since died, said in another statement he alerted Thames Valley Police on Wednesday, January 25.

PC William Wright was among police who discovered Miss Johnston's body in the early hours of Thursday, January 26.

He said Miss Johnston's body was on the floor, along with a woman's handbag, which was open. PC Wright said that, after discovering Miss Johnston was dead, police left the flat and safeguarded the crime scene as experts searched for forensic evidence.

The jury previously heard that Humphries was accused of murdering Miss Johnston for her bank details. The prosecution case is that he had no money and was being pursued for cash over a hire car he was using.

The jury also heard from carpenters Greg Dick, Neil Orchard and Nicholas Denley, who said they had worked with Humphries fitting double glazing at the block of flats where Miss Johnston lived.

Mrs Johnston's statement about her daughter also read: "I would describe Barbara as being an assertive person who would stand her ground."

The trial continues.