# Stepfather accused of murdering student

> Stepfather on trial for murdering 19-year-old student: 'Paid' for saying 'no' to sexual obsession.
- Title: Stepfather accused of murdering student · Dailymail | Shortify
- Summary: Stepfather on trial for murdering 19-year-old student: 'Paid' for saying 'no' to sexual obsession. Stepfather Nathan Owens, 34, is accused of murdering his…
- Keywords: nathan owens, carla georgescu, stepfather, murder, preston crown court, sexual obsession, effigy, student, university of lancashire, hertlepool, news, entertainment
- Source: Dailymail — https://dailymail.com/news/article-16224261/Setepfather-accused-murdering-student-asked-treated-effigies.html?ito=1490&ns_campaign=1490&ns_mchannel=rss
- Published: 2026-10-20T19:14:12+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: nathan owens, carla georgescu, stepfather, murder, preston crown court, sexual obsession, effigy, student, university of lancashire, hertlepool, news, entertainment
## Stepfather on trial
Nathan Owens, 34, faces murder charges after allegedly strangling his stepdaughter Carla Georgescu, 19, at her University of Lancashire accommodation.
## Prosecutor questions motive
Prosecutor Nicholas Lumley KC asked if Owens treated Carla 'like one of your effigies' and if she 'paid' for saying 'no' to his sexual obsession.
## Motivation: sexual jealousy
Owens was motivated by 'sexual jealousy' after learning Carla planned to meet a man she had been romantically involved with online.
## Escalating obsession
Owens had 'escalating fascination' with Carla, including having sex with a life-sized 'effigy' clothed in her nightdress.
## Night of the crime
Owens drove over 100 miles from Hartlepool to Carla's University of Lancashire accommodation in the early hours of February 4, 2026.
## Carla's condition
Carla was wearing a fluffy dressing gown and pyjamas when she let Owens into her accommodation at around 4am on February 4, 2026.
## The crime scene
Owens left the building around an hour-and-a-half later, 'shielding' himself with an umbrella and wearing a face mask while carrying Carla's trainers and two bags.
## Body discovered
Carla's body was found slumped against a wardrobe door with a belt around her neck at her University of Lancashire accommodation on February 5, 2026.
## Initial police response
Police initially believed Carla's death was suicide but became suspicious after Owens 'lied' about his movements that night.
## Owens' silence
Owens has declined to give evidence in his defense, with the trial judge telling jurors they were 'entitled' to hold his silence against him.
## Prosecutor's closing remarks
Prosecutor Nicholas Lumley KC stated Carla 'had everything to live for' and was 'excitedly' buying clothes ahead of a trip to Romania.
## Prosecutor's sexual motive
Lumley KC suggested Owens was motivated by 'to satisfy his sexual needs, come what may' after learning Carla planned to meet an online boyfriend.
## Owens' alibi
Owens claimed he went to Preston to help Carla with incontinence pants and tidy her room before her trip to Romania.
## Defense arguments
Defense argued Carla's death may have been suicide, citing 'scant sign of a struggle' and medical experts unable to rule out self-inflicted injuries.
## Prosecutor's suicide note question
Lumley KC questioned why Carla left no suicide note despite writing and drawing extensively to express her emotions.
## The verdict
Owens is accused of murdering his stepdaughter Carla Georgescu, 19, after allegedly strangling her following her refusal to engage in sexual acts.
## Key takeaway

Stepfather Nathan Owens, 34, is accused of murdering his stepdaughter Carla Georgescu, 19, after allegedly strangling her following her refusal to engage in sexual acts.