LIVE evidence has started in the murder trial of Jorge Carreno at Oxford Crown Court.

Scarlet Blake, 25, of Crotch Crescent, Marston, stands charged with the murder of Mr Carreno.

The 30-year-old Spanish man was found dead at Parsons Pleasure, a popular naked male bathing spot near the centre of Oxford, on July 26, 2021.

READ MORE: Pensioner found guilty of child sex crimes including rape

For two years, police had no leads on what had happened with Mr Carreno, a BMW Plant worker, and an inquest ruled his death as ‘open-ended’ due to a lack of evidence.

However, Blake was arrested in August last year with prosecutor Alison Morgan KC telling a jury police believe she may have strangled Mr Carreno before pushing him into the water.

Blake has denied the charge. The defence is expected to argue that Mr Carreno’s death may have been accidental or a suicide.

The jury heard on Thursday (February 8) from Mr Carreno’s ex-girlfriend, Irene Hidalgo, who described her former partner as ‘the kindest person’ she had ever met.

They had moved to the UK together from Spain in 2019 and both worked at the BMW Plant in Cowley.

READ MORE: 'Murder victim' was 'active' and 'looking forward to future'

“He was shy but at the same time kind,” she said. “If he could do something for you, he would. 

"He was very trusting. He trusted everyone even if you told him not to. He was making jokes all the time. 

"He was an active and joyful person. He was the kindest person I ever met.

She said Mr Carreno suffered with stress but had been receiving therapy and ‘enjoying life’. She told the jury she did not believe Mr Carreno was suicidal.

Ms Hidalgo added that she did not know of anyone called ‘Scarlet Blake’.

The jury also heard from Sashko Stoimenov, one of Mr Carreno's friends who was with him on the night before he died.

He said everyone was ‘happy, smiling and joking’, including Mr Carreno, on the night out. He added that the 30-year-old said he wanted to ‘settle down, get married and have children’.

Prosecutor Alison Morgan KC also took the jury through Mr Carreno’s last known movements before his death, including his activity on his phone.

READ MORE: Scales of Justice: The latest cases from Oxford Magistrates' Court

It was heard that Mr Carreno received a text message from a friend warning him to be careful as Oxford is a ‘dangerous place’. She also sent him a link to a news article about an attempted murder.

Mr Carreno responded to that message with a smiley face emoji. He was also making internet searches of his home address while walking around the city centre alone.

The trial continues this week.