Therapist Christopher Newman has been jailed for life today for the murder of Georgina Eager (28) in a "frenzied" knife attack at her flat in Walkinstown two years ago.
Georgina Eager
Newman (63), who called himself 'Prof Saph Dean', stabbed the young woman a total of 29 times after she told him earlier their affair was over.
The court heard the first blow was severed both her jugular vein and carotid artery.
The former make-up artist, who worked at Newman's alternative therapy clinic in Walkinstown 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. Newman claimed he had not intended to kill her, but that he acted in self-defence and out of provocation.
Gardaí broke down the door to Ms Eager's flat next to the clinic in St Peter's Road, Walkinstown 24 hours later and found her body face down on the bed.
The self-styled professor 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. Georgina Eager was less than half of your age. She
George Eager
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."
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."
PA