Stepfather Accused of Murdering University Student Allegedly Obsessed With Her
Prosecutors allege Nathan Owens drove through the night to his stepdaughter Carla Georgescu's campus accommodation and strangled her, driven by sexual jealousy.
Nathan Owens, 34, is accused of murdering his 19-year-old stepdaughter, Carla Georgescu, at her University of Lancashire campus accommodation in Preston after allegedly driving through the night from their home in Hartlepool.
Prosecutors allege Owens was motivated by "sexual jealousy" after discovering Georgescu, a second-year clinical psychology student, was planning to meet a man she had connected with online. The trial at Preston Crown Court has heard that Owens had developed an "escalating fascination" with Georgescu, which included allegedly having sex with a life-sized effigy of her clothed in her nightdress.
Footage shown to the court depicted Owens parking his car near the student flats around 4 a.m. on February 4. He was seen walking towards the accommodation's foyer with a blanket over his head. He is also alleged to have left the scene about an hour and a half later, shielding himself with an umbrella and wearing a face mask, while carrying Georgescu's trainers and two bags.
Owens drove back to Hartlepool, and his wife, Carla's mother, stated in court that he made no mention of visiting their daughter that night. Concerns were raised when Georgescu did not respond to messages and calls. On February 5, the day that would have been her 20th birthday, her mother contacted university security, who found Georgescu's body slumped against a wardrobe door with a belt around her neck.
Initially, authorities believed she had hanged herself. However, after police informed the couple of the discovery, Owens reportedly told his wife about his late-night trip to Preston. He claimed Georgescu had asked him to bring her incontinence pants and help her tidy her room. The prosecution contends this was an attempt to "cover his tracks."
Evidence presented suggests Owens had become "sexually fixated" with Georgescu. The prosecution detailed allegations of him taking photos of her without her knowledge, filming himself with sex toys, and manipulating images of her to appear sexual. Owens' DNA was reportedly found at the scene.
Georgescu had reportedly been battling depression since arriving in the UK at age 12 and also suffered from endometriosis. In the month prior to her death, she had engaged with NHS mental health services and indicated in an online questionnaire that she was contemplating ending her life. However, when contacted by a doctor, she stated she was "OK now" and was advised to consult her GP.
Owens denies charges of murder, intentional strangulation, and grievous bodily harm with intent. The trial is ongoing.