Full Breakdown
Jury Finds Stepfather Nathan Owens Guilty of Murder and GBH in 20-Year-Old Student’s Death
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
A Preston Crown Court jury unanimously convicted Nathan Owens, 34, of murdering his stepdaughter, Carla Georgescu, 20, and causing grievous bodily harm. The verdict was delivered on October 22, after a three-week trial. Owens, a resident of Hopps Street, Hartlepool, denied all charges and gave no evidence at the trial. He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 23.
Background & Context
Carla Georgescu was a second-year psychology student living in the Ribble Hall student accommodation in Preston. She had planned to travel to Romania on February 5 2026 to meet an online boyfriend.
Timeline
- February 1 2026 – Owens met Carla and her mother for dinner.
- February 2 2026 – Owens sent Carla a message claiming her mother had forgotten a purse and needed it before her trip.
- Early hours of February 4 2026 – Owens travelled from Hartlepool to Preston, left his partner, and arrived at the student halls. CCTV captured him covering his head with a blanket and entering the block at approximately 4:30 a.m.
- February 5 2026 – Carla was discovered lifeless, suspended from a wardrobe with a belt, wearing incontinence pants, and surrounded by a sex toy. Injuries included wounds to her hands, cheek, sexual injuries and a stab wound.
- February 6 2026 – Owens remained silent about his visit until Carla’s mother contacted the mortuary.
- October 19 2026 – Owens’s defence confirmed it would present no evidence and that Owens would not give testimony.
- October 22 2026 – Jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts for murder, grievous bodily harm and intentional strangulation.
- October 23 2026 (scheduled) – Sentencing hearing.
Data & Statistics
- Age of victim: 20 years.
- Age of perpetrator: 34 years.
- Trial length: three weeks.
- Jury deliberation: just over three hours.
- Injuries documented: defensive wounds to hands, facial injuries, sexual injuries, stab wound, and hanging by a belt.
- Digital evidence: indecent images, manipulated photographs placing Carla’s head onto adult pornography, and video of Owens wearing her underwear while interacting with a mannequin.
Official Statements & Responses
Detective Inspector Pete Macdonald of Lancashire Police said the murder robbed Carla of a future she had been building, emphasizing the breach of trust by a family member. Prosecutor Nicholas Lumley KC argued that Owens’s actions were driven by sexual jealousy, noting Carla’s imminent trip to Romania. The Crown Prosecution Service highlighted the extensive forensic evidence linking Owens to the assault and the staged suicide scene. Following the verdict, the presiding judge, Mr Justice Jacobs, indicated a life sentence will be imposed, with a minimum term to be set before any parole eligibility.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Media accounts differ on the precise cause of death. Some sources describe a fatal stab wound, while others emphasize intentional strangulation as a separate charge. Early police assessments classified the death as a suicide before the murder inquiry was launched, reflecting an initial investigative gap that was later closed through forensic analysis.
What’s Next
Owens will remain in custody until his sentencing on October 23 2026, when the court will determine the length of his custodial term and any minimum period before parole eligibility.