Nathan Owens, 34, has been convicted of the murder of his stepdaughter Carla Georgescu, a second-year psychology student, who was killed at her halls of residence in Lancashire on her 20th birthday. He was also found guilty of causing her grievous bodily harm.
Guilty verdicts at Preston Crown Court
A jury at Preston Crown Court returned unanimous verdicts after deliberating for three hours, according to Lancs Live. When the foreman delivered the guilty verdicts, Owens, of Hopps Street, Hartlepool, smirked and flicked his hair.
During the three-week trial, which saw private details of Carla's personal life and mental health examined publicly, Owens repeatedly smirked and made notes. When jurors were presented with photographs recovered from his devices that revealed his disturbing sexual fixation with Carla, he showed no shame.
Prosecution details and court behaviour
As prosecutors delivered their closing submissions, outlining the case against Owens, he stunned court staff by laughing and grinning during the address. He showed no reaction as he was escorted to the cells.
Owens will be held until his sentencing on October 23. The court was told how, in the early hours of February 4, 2026, unemployed Owens travelled from the family home in Hartlepool and killed Carla in her student accommodation.
Investigation and evidence
Carla, who 'had everything to live for', was due to travel to Romania with a friend on her birthday, February 5. When she failed to arrive at the station, and her mother couldn't reach her, officers entered her room and discovered Carla's body. She had been stabbed and sustained defensive and sexual injuries before being hung from a wardrobe with a belt.
Police initially believed the student had ended her own life, but a rapidly developing murder enquiry quickly pointed towards Owens. Owens only acknowledged visiting Preston during the early hours of February 4 after Carla's mother made contact with the mortuary. He said she had requested his help with clearing rubbish from her bedroom and delivering incontinence underwear when he arrived at the halls at 4am on Thursday, February 5.
Digital forensic work revealed secret photographs of Carla, barely clothed, captured at the family residence. Investigators also found hundreds of explicit images where Owens had digitally placed Carla's head onto adult pornography performers and footage of him wearing her underwear and engaging in sexual activity with a life-sized mannequin clothed in her nightwear.
Sentencing to follow
Owens declined to respond to additional questioning during police interviews and chose not to give evidence throughout the trial. Mr Justice Jacobs will hand down a life sentence to Owens but will determine a minimum period before he becomes eligible to seek parole.
