The trial of the couple charged with the murder of former University of the West Indies, Mona, lecturer, Dr Peter Vogel, got underway in the Home Circuit Court today, almost ten years after his death.

Yanika Scott, who was Vogel's helper at the time, and her boyfriend, Calvin Downer, are on trial for the murder which took place on July 18, 2007.

In her opening statement, the lead prosecutor, Maxine Jackson, told the seven-member jury that the killing was unprovoked.

The former lecturer's oldest daughter, Maia Vogel, testified that she found her father's body on the floor of the study inside the family's Mona Commons home.

She said he was lying face down with his hands and feet tied and a blue cloth over his face.

She further testified that she went over to her father and tried to wake him but he was unresponsive.

Vogel said when she checked, neither Scott nor her infant child, who lived with the family, was in their room.

She said it appeared that her bed was not slept in and it looked like all her belongings were gone.