Nathan Owens, 34, smirked as a jury unanimously convicted him of the murder and grievous bodily harm of university student Carla Georgescu. The verdicts were returned at Preston Crown Court after around three hours of deliberations following a three-week trial.
Jurors heard Owens had developed a sexual obsession with Carla before driving from the family home in Hartlepool to Preston, where he murdered her in her student bedroom in the early hours of February 4, 2026. Carla, a second-year psychology student, was found dead on her 20th birthday.
Events Leading to the Murder
Just days before her death, Carla's mother had travelled to Preston to stay with her, with the pair going shopping and out for dinner. Owens later travelled from Hartlepool to join them for a meal to celebrate Carla's upcoming birthday.
Police said Owens returned to Preston in the early hours of February 4 without telling Carla's mother where he was going. He messaged Carla pretending that he and her mother were coming to collect a purse her mother had left behind, which police said was a lie.
Around two-and-a-half hours later, Owens parked in a side street rather than his usual parking space at the halls and covered his head with a blanket before Carla let him into the building. CCTV showing Carla allowing Owens inside was the last time she was seen alive, according to police.
Discovery and Investigation
When Carla later failed to arrive at the station and her mother was unable to contact her, police entered her student bedroom and discovered her body. She had been stabbed and suffered defensive and sexual injuries before being suspended from a wardrobe with a belt, according to the court report.
Officers initially believed Carla had taken her own life but quickly became concerned about the circumstances surrounding her death and launched further enquiries. When officers later asked Owens why CCTV had captured him at Carla's halls at around 4am, police said he lied and claimed he had gone there to collect his wife, who was asleep upstairs at the time.
After officers left, Owens carried out a series of internet searches, including: "i think the police think im guilty". Detectives later returned to the property and arrested him on suspicion of Carla's murder.
Evidence of Obsession
During the investigation, digital enquiries uncovered covert photographs of Carla scantily dressed which had been taken at the family home. Investigators also discovered hundreds of pornographic images in which Owens had superimposed Carla's head onto adult porn performers, the court heard. Videos were also discovered showing Owens dressed in Carla's lingerie and having sex with a life-sized effigy which had been dressed in her nightie.
Throughout the trial, intimate details of Carla's sex life and mental health were scrutinised in court as prosecutors set out their case against Owens. According to the court report, Owens smirked and took notes during proceedings and did not lower his gaze when jurors were shown photographs recovered from his devices which demonstrated his sexual obsession with Carla. As prosecutors delivered their closing arguments, Owens was reported to have laughed and smiled throughout the speech.
Owens declined to give evidence during his trial and showed no emotion as he was taken down to the cells following the guilty verdicts.
Sentencing and Aftermath
DI Pete Macdonald, of Lancashire Police's Force Major Investigation Team, said: "Carla was a young woman with her whole life ahead of her, a life that was taken away by someone she should have been able to trust. Owens had a despicable, perverted sexual obsession with his stepdaughter, an obsession that ended with him killing her. He has now been brought to justice for his crimes."
Mr Justice Jacobs will sentence Owens on Friday, October 23. Owens will receive a life sentence, with the judge due to determine the minimum term he must serve before he can apply for parole.
