Sadistic killer who tortured researcher from Bloxwich found dead in prison

A sadistic killer who tortured a world-renowned medical expert for her debit card has died in prison.

Dr Barbara Johnston, originally from Bloxwich, was stabbed 49 times by Michael Humphries who then went on to withdraw £400 from her bank account.

The window fitter was jailed for life in 2006 for the twisted killing of the Oxford University medical researcher.

The Ministry of Justice confirmed Humphries had died in prison.

Dr Johnston’s brother Patrick said news of the murderer’s death had brought the shocking details of his sister’s ordeal flooding back.

He said he had mixed emotions on learning of the fate of the man who had caused his family so much pain but insisted: “There is not a part of me that is glad he is dead.”

Humphries was part of a glazing team who had worked on Dr Johnston’s home in Oxford and tortured her to try and get her to give up her bank details before finally killing her.

She was hugely respected for her research around cot death and had worked in New Zealand for 23 years before returning to be near her father Anthony, who had fallen ill.

He died before he could see his daughter’s killer brought to justice.

Her mother Valerie, who broke down following Humphries’ conviction, died in 2016.

The MOJ said Humphries died in prison on May 18. It is not known how he died.

Shock

Speaking to the Express & Star from his Walsall home, Mr Johnston, aged 67, said: “It was a shock. I still don’t know how to react.

“I was surprised how much it upset me, I think possibly it’s because mum is no longer alive to share the news with.

“He was 54 and my sister was 55. It’s too young for anyone to die. I wanted him to suffer 30 years in prison. I’m against the death penalty and 30 years is just about long enough. There is not a part of me that is glad he is dead.”

Mr Johnston said it was pity he felt towards the killer, rather than anger.

“I never have anger. I thought if I got angry it would have an adverse affect on me and I didn’t want to be another victim,” he said. “In many ways I suppose it is sad that circumstances drove him to it.

“It is sad that someone’s life should turn out like that that at 42 years old they have absolutely nothing to look forward to.

“Most people deal with difficult situations without resorting to violence. It was a waste of two lives.”

Brutal and sadistic

Detectives arrived to a grisly scene at Dr Johnston’s home following the shocking murder.

The judge in the murder trial, Anthony King, described Dr Johnston’s killing as ‘brutal, callous and sadistic’.

Her brother said the appalling nature of his sister’s death made it particularly hard to deal with.

The grandfather-of-three added: “It has brought a lot of things back. My sister is always on my mind, a day doesn’t go by without thinking about her, you never finish grieving to be honest.

“It is always there but this sort of thing opens the wounds.

“The last 10 minutes of her life must have been horrific.

“There were a number a stab wounds, they were of different degrees of severity.”

He continued: “It was in single figures that could have killed her.

“He was prodding her with the knife to get her to give him her debit card and PIN.

“She was also beaten 20 times with a blunt instrument. It was an increasing level of severity and torture.”

Mr Johnston said Humphries’ death would not bring him closure on the death of his sister, who had devoted her life to work.

He said: “My view on closure is it is similar to reading a book. You shut the book, put it on the shelf and never look at it again. There never actually is closure.

“My life is different now, I don’t like violence on the TV, I don’t read violent reports in the newspaper.

“That’s the way it has changed me.”

Mr Johnston continued: “She put 100 per cent and more into her work.

“She was a very determined person and very intelligent.

“She had been away from her family for many years and after coming home to reacquaint with her family and friends in England she didn’t get the chance to do that.”