Killer ‘may have used medical knowledge’
The multiple stab wounds in the head, face, chest, back and shoulder penetrated Georgina Eager’s heart, lung, windpipe, carotid artery and jugular vein.
Her lover, homoeopathic doctor Christopher Newman, aged 62, denies murder but admits manslaughter on the basis he acted in self- defence.
The murder weapon was also left in the young woman’s neck.
Asked about seven wounds on the back of Ms Eager’s neck, Dr Cassidy said the killer had used his medical knowledge to inflict a gruesome neck wound and sever the spinal cords after several unsuccessful attempts.
Newman, it was claimed in a London court, repeatedly knifed Ms Eager, 28, in her Dublin bedroom and took €1,200 from her account before fleeing to London.
It was claimed the victim was about to leave the “possessive” Newman - also known as Saph Dean - when he attacked her in the flat next door to his clinic in St Peter’s Road, Walkinstown.
The therapist, who was born Panna Lal Palta in India, offered colonic irrigation, massages and reflexology classes.
Newman prescribed herbal medicines and claimed to be a professor of ‘factology’ - a lifestyle discipline he invented.
Ms Eager was working at Newman’s clinic in the summer of 2002, when they became lovers. She helped run the business and he rented her a flat next door. He also changed his will to leave her all his assets.
But when the relationship turned sour and she threatened to leave him, he murdered her, Inner London Crown Court heard.
Jurors yesterday heard evidence from Dr Cassidy, who examined Ms Eager’s body. She said Ms Eager would have been close to death from multiple stab wounds when he thrust the knife into the back of her neck.
“The appearance suggested she was immobilised at the time. It is fairly likely she was already dead,” Dr Cassidy said.
The court heard earlier how Ms Eager was found face down on her bed in a pool of blood. She had been stabbed 21 times. One thrust of the blade went in from the front of her neck, plunging 12cm through to the spine at the back.
“There were wounds at the back of the neck and the knife was still present in one,” Dr Cassidy said.
She said the victim could have died from any of these wounds affecting her breathing and blood flow to her heart and brain.
There were several other superficial wounds including on her arms and hands, which she believed were caused as Ms Eager tried in vain to fight Newman off.
“The pattern of injuries would suggest that there had been a struggle,” she added.
Dr Cassidy also suggested the killer had used his anatomical knowledge to slice through the spinal cord at the easiest part after several unsuccessful attempts.
Michael Birnbaum, QC, prosecuting, asked: “What struck you about the particular injuries which had gone in at the back of the neck?” Dr Cassidy said: “Where they were clustered is a rather unusual site considering where she was on the bed.
“Neck injuries aren’t uncommon but, in 200 cases I have recently reviewed, there is no evidence of any specific clustering in the neck. It suggested to me that somebody knew that was a vital area.
“The final one would have been where the knife managed to slide between the skull and spine.”
Newman stared at Dr Cassidy as she showed jurors Ms Eager’s blood-soaked and ripped vest top. But he bowed his head as she listed the wounds.
Ms Eager is believed to have died between 8.30pm on May 21, 2003, and 10.30am the following morning. The court has heard how Newman was arrested within hours of the killing near Westminster Bridge. Originally from Trudderbridge, Co Wicklow, Ms Eager was the oldest of four sisters.
Newman, of 143 St Peter’s Road, Walkinstown, Dublin, and also of Moby House, Catford, southeast London, denies murder on May 22, 2003.
