A jury has convicted a North East stepfather of murdering his stepdaughter, a university student found dead in her halls of residence in Preston. Nathan Owens, 34, of Hopps Street, Hartlepool, was found guilty of murder and grievous bodily harm of Carla Georgescu, a second-year psychology student.
The jury at Preston Crown Court took three hours to reach unanimous guilty verdicts. Owens smirked and flicked his hair as the foreman delivered the verdicts, and throughout the three-week trial he smirked and took notes while intimate details of Carla's sex life and mental health were examined in public.
Evidence of Obsession Presented in Court
When the jury was shown photographs seized from his devices that demonstrated his sexual obsession with Carla, his gaze did not drop, Lancs Live reports. As the prosecution delivered closing arguments outlining the case, Owens shocked court officials by laughing and smiling throughout the speech.
He showed no emotion as he was led to the cells, where he will remain until his sentencing on Friday, October 23.
Murder in the Early Hours
In the early hours of February 4, 2026, unemployed Owens drove from the family home in Hartlepool and murdered Carla in her student bedroom. Carla, who 'had everything to live for', was due to travel to Romania with a friend on her birthday, February 5.
When she did not turn up at the station and her mother was unable to contact her, police entered her bedroom and discovered Carla's body. She had suffered stab wounds along with defensive and sexual injuries before being suspended from a wardrobe using a belt. Police initially believed the student had taken her own life, but a fast-moving murder investigation quickly led them to Owens.
Digital Evidence and Sentencing
Owens only conceded that he had travelled to Preston in the early hours of February 4 after Carla's mother visited the mortuary. He alleged she had requested his assistance in clearing rubbish from her bedroom and delivering incontinence underwear when he attended the halls of residence at 4am on Thursday, February 5.
However, digital forensic investigations revealed covert photographs of Carla, scantily dressed, taken at the family home. Detectives also uncovered hundreds of pornographic images in which Owens had superimposed Carla's face onto adult models, along with videos of him wearing her lingerie and engaging in sexual acts with a life-sized effigy dressed in her nightie.
Owens refused to respond to further questions during police interviews and chose not to give evidence throughout the trial. Mr Justice Jacobs will hand Owens a life sentence but will establish a minimum term before he becomes eligible to apply for parole.
