Stepfather declines to give evidence in student murder trial

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 20 Oct, 10:31 · Archive

Nathan Owens, accused of murdering his stepdaughter at her university flat in Preston, has declined to give evidence at his trial.

Nathan Owens, 34, from Hartlepool, is accused of murdering his stepdaughter Carla Georgescu at her hall of residence in Preston in February. Carla's body was found hanging in her room at Ribble Hall on 5 February. Owens denies murder but has declined to give evidence or call any defence witnesses after the prosecution closed its case on Monday.

The prosecution alleges Owens was sexually obsessed with Carla. The court heard he had secretly taken photographs of her and superimposed her face on to pornographic images. He was also alleged to have viewed secret footage he had recorded of her. The prosecution contends he killed her in an attack potentially driven by sexual jealousy after discovering she intended to meet her online boyfriend in Romania for the first time.

CCTV footage showed Owens entering Carla's accommodation at around 04:00 on 4 February and leaving about an hour and a half later. The court heard that neither Carla's red pyjama bottoms nor her grey trainers, which Owens was seen wearing when he left, have been found. Her laptop, which was disconnected from the flat's WiFi at 05:19, has also never been recovered. The judge advised the defence barrister that jurors could 'draw such inferences as appear proper' from Owens's decision not to give evidence.

How it is being reported

• Stepdad accused of murdering university student declines to give evidence at trialNathan Owens, 34, from Hartlepool, denies murdering psychology student stepdaughter Carla GeorgescuTeessideLive · 20 Oct, 10:09
• Murder-accused stepdad declines to give evidenceNathan Owens denies murdering 19-year-old Carla Georgescu at her student accommodation.BBC Tees · 19 Oct, 14:47

In this story: Nathan Owens · Carla Georgescu · Preston Crown Court · Preston · Hartlepool · Ribble Hall

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