Man charged with murder of ex-Auckland academic

A man has been charged with murdering the former Auckland scientist found stabbed 49 times at her home in Oxford, England.

The body of Barbara Madeline Johnston, 55, was found in her flat.

Police said she had been stabbed 49 times and strangled.

The suspect, Michael Humphries, 42, from Faringdon, Oxfordshire -- about 30 minutes from Oxford -- was arrested on Saturday. He is due to appear before Oxford Magistrates' Court late today NZ time, the BBC reported.

Dr Johnston had spent the past 23 years in New Zealand and only moved to Oxford in September. Dr Johnston conducted research into fetal brain development at Auckland University's Liggins Institute. She was an expert in cot death and premature babies.

- NZPA