Newman challenged on qualifications

The owner of a Dublin alternative medicine clinic who is accused of murdering an employee admitted in court yesterday that he…

The owner of a Dublin alternative medicine clinic who is accused of murdering an employee admitted in court yesterday that he had no qualifications to carry out various treatments he offered to the public.

Christopher Newman, who practised under the name of Prof Saph Dean, confirmed he had created the discipline of "factology", which, he said, was "related to medicine".

"Nobody actually qualified me to do anything. Under my domain as a professor of factology, I will apply the facts to any area the patient suffers." Rejecting claims that he was "self-styled", he refused to accept it was misleading to describe himself as a professor when he had no higher degree than a Bachelor of Science, for which he said he studied in India when he was 18 years old.

"I am a professor," he said, adding "factology" was "not a theory", nor "rubbish".

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Mr Newman was replying to questions from Michael Birnbaum QC, for the crown, who began his cross-examination of the defendant yesterday at the Inner London Crown Court.

Mr Newman has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Georgina Eager (28), originally of Newtownmountkennedy, Co Wicklow, at her flat at St Peter's Road, Walkinstown, on May 22nd 2003.

At the opening of the cross-examination, Mr Newman was asked about signs that he had erected outside his clinic on the same road, listing various qualifications which he purported to have. Mr Newman rejected claims they were misleading, saying "this is not to confuse anyone".

But he did not refute the fact that he had no qualifications to treat gynaecological problems, despite advertising such treatments.

"There may be degrees. There may be PhDs. There may be designated professors. But the real approval of any degree comes in the hands of the public," he said.

The court heard that among his other business interests was the "International Natural Therapy Examination Board", which had a correspondence address at Camden Street.

Asked why the group had previously had an address in London, Mr Newman said: "Wherever I go the examination board goes with me." He continued: "Under head of complementary medicine there is no governing body that says you cannot issue a diploma

"One can open an organisation and start issuing diplomas in all complementary medicines."

Mr Newman's step-daughter and Ms Eager were both listed as "consultants" to the organisation. Mr Birnbaum asked how could this be so when Ms Eager had, according to the defendant, been seeking a qualification from the board for performing colonic irrigation.

"How can she be a consultant to the very organisation that was going to give her a diploma?" asked counsel.

"I admit this is a mistake," Mr Newman replied. But he denied suggestions that his evidence on the matter had been "a pack of lies".

Mr Newman further confirmed that Ms Eager was carrying out colonics and massage within about two weeks of joining the clinic, describing her as "too good to be true" and "the glory of the clinic". Asked would it have been a terrible blow to the business if she had left, he replied: "It will be a blow to me." He told the court that before employing Ms Eager he had been living with, and had been the "partner" of, a young Bulgarian woman who had also worked for him. Under earlier questioning by his defence counsel, Mr Newman said he had never had a relationship with an employee. "Georgina was the first exception." Mr Newman said he did not feel responsible for killing Ms Eager, who was found dead with more than 20 knife wounds. However, he said he blamed himself for "provoking her" into allegedly attacking him with the knife.

The trial continues today.