A man accused of murdering a Co Wicklow woman two years ago told British police shortly after his arrest in London that she was "his soul" and he had never raised a hand to her, a jury was told yesterday.
In a taped interview with police in London, recorded shortly after his arrest on suspicion of the murder of 28-year-old Georgina Eager in Dublin, Christopher Newman said that he did not accept that she was dead.
Mr Newman (63) has denied the murder of Ms Eager on May 22nd, 2003. Her body was found with multiple stab wounds in the bedroom of her flat on St Peter's Road, Walkinstown, next door to the alternative therapies clinic run by Mr Newman.
The court has been told that Ms Eager worked at the clinic and also had a personal relationship with Mr Newman, who was known in Dublin as "Prof Saph Dean".
Mr Newman, an Indian-born British national, is being tried at the Inner London Crown Court under legislation that allows him to be tried in Britain for an offence allegedly committed in another jurisdiction. The prosecution has contended that Mr Newman murdered Ms Eager and then fled to London.
In a recording of his first interview with police in London after his arrest on suspicion of murder, which was played to the jury yesterday, Mr Newman said that Ms Eager had been "his soul" and "his inspiration".
Asked by the senior officer at the interview, Det Insp David Flood, whether he had told police when first arrested "you found out she was murdered", Mr Newman maintained that what he had said was: "you mean to tell me she was murdered, I do not believe it". Asked whether he was involved in Ms Eager's death, Mr Newman said: "She will be responsible for my death. She is my soul. I am nothing without her".
He told police that Ms Eager had been his inspiration and that he always told her that she gave him life. Mr Newman said in the interview that Ms Eager was one of the most honest people on earth. "I never raised a hand to her. I never raised a hand to anyone in my life," he said.
Asked whether he would remember if he had killed Ms Eager, Mr Newman told police in the taped interview: "How can you ask that when I do not accept she is dead."
Mr Newman also told police in the interview that he had gone to London to see his two sons, who he hadn't met in 10 years.
The court heard yesterday that in six subsequent interviews with police Mr Newman largely declined to comment on questions about the murder.
His counsel, Andrew Smiler, told the jury that Mr Newman had been advised by his solicitor not to make any comment.
The jury also heard yesterday that Mr Newman had first been arrested by police in London for being drunk in a public place on the night of May 22nd, 2003. Some hours later they learned from gardaí in Dublin about the murder of Ms Eager.
Mr Smiler said yesterday that the police constable who arrested Mr Newman for being drunk had probably saved his life as his client had earlier told his ex-wife that he was going to take a taxi and throw himself off the nearest bridge. The case continues.