Barbara Johnston

Fingertip search carried out of murder scene

30/01/2006 16:25:05

Police in England are conducting a fingertip search of the house where the body of former Auckland academic Barbara Johnston was found.

Dr Johnston had been strangled and stabbed 49 times. Her body was found in her Oxford flat.

It is thought her death could be the work of animal rights extremists.

Thames Valley Police are questioning a 42-year-old man and have been granted a 24 hour custody extension to continue the questioning process. The man is being held at Abingdon Police station.

The 55-year-old had lived in New Zealand for 23 years, and during the eighties and nineties conducted research into foetal brain development at Auckland University's Liggins Institute. Police say her last contact was on Monday afternoon when she spoke on the telephone to a letting agent. Family members raised the alarm on Wednesday when they became concerned for her welfare after not hearing from her.

Dr Johnson's family say they are devastated by her tragic and untimely death. Her parents, Anthony and Valerie Johnston, issued a statement saying "Barbara was a dedicated research scientist who strove to forward work in the field of cot death and premature babies. She was intelligent, lively and a devoted daughter and she will be greatly missed by us all."

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Animal rights activists may have been responsible for murdering Barbara Johnston an academic who had just returned to Britain after living in Auckland for 23 years. Correspondent Malcolm Stuart rpts

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