Stepfather accused of murdering 19-year-old stepdaughter at university halls

Summarised from 3 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 10 Oct, 18:19 · Archive

Nathan Owens, 34, is accused of murdering his stepdaughter Carla Georgescu, 19, at her University of Lancashire halls of residence on February 4.

Nathan Owens, 34, is accused of murdering his stepdaughter Carla Georgescu, 19, a second-year clinical psychology student at the University of Lancashire in Preston. Prosecutors allege he drove more than 100 miles from the family home in Hartlepool, County Durham, through the night on February 4, arriving at Ribble Hall, her block of student flats, around 4am. CCTV footage shown at Preston Crown Court records Owens parking his Ford Puma near the accommodation and approaching the foyer with a patterned blanket over his head. Carla, wearing a fluffy dressing gown and pyjamas, is shown letting him into the building.

Owens had visited Preston three days earlier, on February 1, after his wife Janina, Carla's mother, and Carla attended an early birthday meal at Kimji Korean restaurant. He returned home that night with his wife. Three days later, he left without telling Janina and drove back to the halls. According to prosecutors, Owens told Carla a false story that her mother had left her purse at the restaurant during that earlier visit.

Prosecutors claim Owens' actions were driven by 'sexual jealousy' after he learned Carla planned to meet a man she had been romantically involved with online and was due to leave for Romania on February 5, her 20th birthday. The court heard that Owens had 'a wholly improper and dangerously entrenched sexual obsession' with his stepdaughter that may have lasted years. Jurors were told this included having sex with a life-sized effigy of Carla clothed in her nightdress.

After entering her room around 4am, Owens left approximately 90 minutes later. CCTV footage shows him leaving while shielding himself with an umbrella, wearing a face-mask and carrying Carla's trainers and two bags. He drove back to Hartlepool. His wife later told jurors he did not mention having visited Carla that night. Carla was found dead at her halls on February 5. A post-mortem revealed she had suffered two heavy blows to her head, slash marks on her cheek, and cuts and bruises to her mouth and nose. Owens denies murder, strangulation and grievous bodily harm.

How it is being reported

• Moment ‘sexually fixated’ stepdad turns up at teen’s uni halls before ‘murdering her’Carla Georgescu's death was the culmination of a 'one-sided sexual obsession' by her stepfather that may have lasted years, the jury was told.Metro · 10 Oct, 16:19
• Man with 'sexual obsession' seen 'walking under blanket before killing stepdaughter'Nathan Owens is accused of killing his stepdaughter Carla Georgescu, 19, who was found dead at her University of Lancashire halls of residence on February 5The Mirror · 10 Oct, 11:55
• Moment university student, 19, lets 'sexually obsessed' stepdad into her halls with his head covered by blanket before he allegedly strangled herNathan Owens, 34, is accused of murdering his stepdaughter Carla Georgescu after driving more than 100 miles through the night to her student halls in Preston, Lancashire on February 4.Daily Mail · 10 Oct, 02:04
• Moment 'sexually obsessed killer stepdad' arrives at 19-year-old university student's halls of residence with his head covered by blanketNathan Owens, 34, is accused of having driven through the night before murdering Carla Georgescu at her student flats at the University of Lancashire campus on February 4.Daily Mail · 8 Oct, 23:08

In this story: Nathan Owens · Carla Georgescu · Janina · University of Lancashire · Preston Crown Court · Preston · Hartlepool · Romania

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