A close friend of Michael Humphries - who is accused of murdering academic Barbara Johnston, right, - spent the evening drinking with him hours after he is alleged to have killed her.

John Clewer-Wolk, a prison officer who lived in Gloucester Street, Faringdon, at the time of the incident, told a jury at Oxford Crown Court yesterday that Humphries - a friend for 17 years - had called at his house at about 2.15pm on Tuesday, January 24.

The prosecution alleges that Humphries killed the 55-year-old medical researcher that morning. He denies the murder.

See oxfordmail.net tomorrow for the full story.