Stepfather Accused of Murdering Student Had Sexual Obsession, Court Hears
The trial of Nathan Owens, accused of strangling his stepdaughter Carla Georgescu, heard evidence of his alleged obsession, including constructing an effigy of her.
Nathan Owens, 34, is accused of murdering his 19-year-old stepdaughter, Carla Georgescu, in February, a court heard. Prosecutors allege that Owens, driven by sexual jealousy, strangled Georgescu after driving over 100 miles to her student accommodation at the University of Lancashire in Preston.
Carla Georgescu was found dead in her room on February 5, the day before what would have been her 20th birthday. Her mother had become concerned when she could not reach her daughter and contacted university security, who then discovered her body slumped against a wardrobe door with a belt around her neck.
CCTV footage played at Preston Crown Court showed Owens entering Ribble Hall, the student accommodation, at approximately 4 a.m. on February 4, with his face covered by a blanket. He was seen leaving the building about 90 minutes later, wearing Carla's trainers, carrying two bags, and using an umbrella and face mask to conceal himself.
Prosecutors claim Owens' actions were motivated by a 'sexual obsession' with his stepdaughter, which allegedly included constructing a life-sized effigy of her and engaging in sexual acts with it. The trial heard that Owens had also allegedly taken photos of Carla without her knowledge and manipulated images of her.
Owens reportedly stopped en route back to his home in Hartlepool to dispose of items, including bedding that forensic tests later revealed contained traces of Carla's DNA. His wife, Janina Georgescu, testified that Owens did not mention his visit to Preston when she awoke that morning.
Following his stepdaughter's death, Owens allegedly conducted internet searches on topics such as how police investigate suspicious deaths and whether police can be 'misinformed' about causes of death. He also reportedly downloaded software to erase data and performed a factory reset on his mobile phone. Later web searches included phrases like 'I think the police think I’m guilty' and 'when police turn on their bodycam you are guilty'.
Owens denies charges of murder, intentional strangulation, and grievous bodily harm with intent. The trial is ongoing.
