Doctor accused of murder denies spying on victim

A HOMOEOPATHIC doctor accused of murdering his young lover yesterday told jurors he was not spying on her when he watched live footage of her massaging a naked man.

He also denied being possessive even though he had read text messages on the victim’s mobile phone.

Christopher Newman, aged 62, repeatedly knifed Georgina Eager, 28, in her Dublin bedroom and left the knife embedded in her neck, Inner London Crown Court has heard. She was about to dump “possessive” Newman when he stabbed her in the flat next door to his clinic in Walkinstown, the court has been told.

Under cross-examination from prosecutor Michael Birnbaum, QC, Newman was quizzed over his claims that he believed Georgina was dressed in summer clothing when he knocked on her door on the morning of the killing. The prosecutor said she was in pyjama-like clothes and wearing no underwear.

“Did you attack her when she was asleep on the bed in the meditation room, Mr Newman?” he asked.

Newman replied: “You tear my heart apart.”

Mr Birnbaum held up the murder weapon as he asked how Newman, who claims he was naked at the time of the killing, escaped from the bloodbath with no injuries.

“How is it she ended up with the knife stuck in the back of her neck?” he asked.

Newman said: “My counsel asked me the same question and I said how could I answer if I don’t know.”

Earlier yesterday, Newman said he thought Georgina had lost her mind when he saw the video of her massaging a naked man. The footage was taken at the clinic using what Newman claims is training equipment.

Newman has told the court he threatened to show Georgina’s mother the tape on the night of the killing.

Jurors earlier this week watched more than 30 minutes of the film, which Newman claims was recorded in early May 2003, in which Georgina can be seen rubbing oil into the man’s thighs. He also apparently kisses her hand as she leaves the room.

The prosecutor said: “What point are you trying to make about the tape - that she was some kind of loose woman or a slut?”

Newman replied: “I have told you my view of her and I still have respect for her, but I was so shocked.”

Mr Birnbaum asked why he turned on the television.

“Was it to spy on Georgina?” he said.

Newman said: “There was no question of spying. I came down and I switched on the news or something, and it was there.”

Mr Birnbaum asked: “Did you see the part where the man had an erection and she’s carrying on massaging him?”

Newman replied: “I saw the whole tape.”

Newman later insisted to jurors he was incapable of being possessive. The prosecutor asked him how, if he did not have such a flaw, he came to have read text messages on Georgina’s mobile phone.

During an evening out on May 9, 2003, she had met a man called Kierron who got hold of her number. When Newman found out, he left a threatening voicemail on his phone which angered Georgina on the night she was killed, the court heard.

Newman continued to deny killing Georgina until the prosecutor described the number of wounds he inflicted - jurors have heard it was more than 30.

Mr Birnbaum said: “Mr Newman, you must have caused these wounds. No one else did, is that right?”

Newman answered: “That is right.”

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.

The trial continues.