Therapist gets life for stabbing lover to death

A jealous therapist was jailed for life today for murdering his young lover in a “frenzied” knife attack.

Christopher Newman, 63, repeatedly plunged the razor-sharp blade into her body a total of 29 times after she told him earlier their affair was over.

Using his medical knowledge to ensure a fatal attack and prevent “gentle” Georgina Eager, 28, from ever going off with anybody else, the first blow was carefully aimed to sever both her jugular vein and carotid artery.

The former make-up artist, who worked at her lover’s alternative therapy clinic in Dublin and was possibly asleep when the attack started, never stood a chance, Inner London Crown Court was told.

Despite the fatal injury she had already suffered, she frantically tried to fight off her attacker.

Pathologists later found “numerous” defensive wounds on both hands and along her arms.

By the time the attack finished, Newman, who had claimed self-defence and provocation, had stabbed her a total of 29 times.

The weapon was left embedded in her neck where it had severed her spinal column.

It was still there when police broke down the door to her flat next to the clinic in St Peter’s Road, Walkinstown 24 hours later and found a blood-spattered body face down on the bed.

The self-styled professor, who tried to paint his victim as violent and unfaithful, showed no reaction as the jury of seven men and four women took just over six hours to return a unanimous guilty verdict.

Smartly dressed in a dark suit, white shirt and patterned tie, he remained impassive as Judge Jonathan Van Der Werff told him the jury clearly reached its verdict on “overwhelming evidence”.

“I have no doubt that you decided to kill Georgina and I have equally no doubt that when you went to her room at whatever time it was that morning on the 22nd of May two years ago you took with you the knife from the kitchen next door.

“I think she was probably asleep when you went to the room and I’m sure that you immediately started to stab her initially to the front of her body.”

He went on: “If she had been asleep and we shall never know, when you started she would have woken almost immediately and it is plain she then tried to protect herself by holding up her arms and by trying to grab the blade of the knife.

“She suffered many defensive injuries in that way.”

But, inevitably, the severity of the injuries rapidly overwhelmed her.

Despite the fact she was almost certainly dead by that time, he turned her over and stabbed her several times in the back.

“Georgina Eager was less than half of your age. She was your employee whom you seduced. You made her your mistress.

“You were in a position of trust. She saw no bad in anyone, but indeed good in everyone, and therefore she saw good in you.

“But you took advantage of her when she trusted and admired you and was in awe of you.”

The judge said Newman's motive for killing her was "not entirely clear".

He continued: “But probably you were afraid she was going to leave you.

“You were I think in love with her and you were jealous of her and you were determined no one else should have her if she was going to leave.

“The only sentence I can pass on you for this offence is one of life.”

The judge added that because of the seriousness of the case he would be recommending that a longer than usual 14 years elapse before parole was considered.

“But that does not mean you will get it and I warn you, you may never be released.”

Newman was then led to the cells below, clearly smirking.

Outside court Garda Superintendent Tom Mulligan, who was in charge of the Irish end of the case, was asked whether he thought justice had been done.

“I think the verdict speaks for itself,” he replied.

During the month-long trial the court heard how Newman came to the UK more than 40 years ago and moved to Ireland in the early 90s.

He later opened his clinic treating a variety of complaints with his self invented “science of factology", which incorporated reflexology, massage and “colonic irrigation”.

Miss Eager, a Limerick University graduate with a degree in European studies, went to work for the defendant in the summer of 2002.

“All who knew her spoke of her as being a very gentle person, who liked to do the best for others and who liked to help other people,” said prosecutor Michael Birnbaum, QC.

“She regarded Newman as a very learned man who had taught her a great deal.”

But others, said counsel, had a different opinion of him.

“He could be charming, but at times very arrogant and domineering.”

In the event, Miss Eager, clearly attracted to her new boss, began an affair with him a short while later.

To begin with all went well, but as time passed it became clear he was becoming ever more possessive towards her.

Clinic receptionist Lisa O’Brien recalled his dislike of male clients making appointments with his much younger girlfriend, and would not only question who she had spoken to on the phone but would look through the numbers of her mobile phone.

Things eventually went from bad to worse and on the night she died the couple had a blazing row.

Newman tried to make out she had first hurled a hammer in his direction before holding a knife to his throat.

This, he claimed, left him no choice but to disarm her and defend himself.

“I thought she was going to cut me to pieces. I was very, very frightened,” he maintained.

But in cross-examination, the prosecution rubbished his version, pointing out that, amongst other things, even if his account was true, once disarmed she was no longer any threat to him.

The court heard that after her death he drove to the outskirts of Dublin, possibly to look for a place to bury her body.

At some stage, however, he changed his mind and fled to London.

Miss Eager’s worried family, who had been expecting her to come over and see them, finally raised the alarm.

Newman, by this time in Britain had first paid a visit to his ex-wife telling her he had made a “big mistake”.

He added he was going to kill himself and, on his way to Westminster Bridge in a taxi, bought a bottle of champagne.

The court heard that even if he was serious, he never got the chance to end it all.

He was arrested for being drunk and later, after being contacted by the Gardaí, police also charged him with his young lover’s murder.

Shortly afterwards the dead woman's father, George Eager, read a statement.

Flanked by his wife, Sylvia and his three remaining daughters, he said: “Georgina was a lovely gentle daughter and sister. She was also patient, determined and focused… she loved to have a laugh and live life to the full.”

His voice breaking with emotion, he went on: “Nothing that has happened here will bring her back to us but we warmly welcome this verdict today. It will help us find some peace and deal with her brutal murder.”

After expressing some mystification why it was found necessary to try Newman, Indian-born but a British subject, in Britain rather than Ireland, he added: “We as a family are heartbroken and our lives have chanced dramatically. It is hard to believe Georgina has gone. It is her beautiful spirit that keeps us going.

“She gave us 28 years of her love and gentle presence. For us she truly was an angel.”