'Sexually obsessed' stepfather accused of murdering student, 19, opts not to give evidence in his own defence despite judge's warning

A ‘sexually obsessed' stepfather accused of murdering a 19-year-old student has chosen not to give evidence in his own defence, a jury heard today.Nathan Owens, 34, allegedly strangled Carla Georgescu in February after driving more than 100 miles through the night to her student halls in Preston, Lancashire.Prosecutors claim his actions were driven by 'sexual jealousy' after learning the second-year clinical psychology student planned to meet a man she had been romantically involved with online.His 'escalating fascination' with Carla included having sex with a life-sized 'effigy' of his teenage stepdaughter which he had clothed in her nightdress, the trial has heard.After the prosecution closed its case at Preston Crown Court on the tenth day of the trial today, Owens’ barrister, John Elvidge KC, told jurors that his client would not be giving evidence.The trial judge, Mr Justice Jacobs, asked Mr Elvidge whether he had advised Owens that jurors were entitled to ‘draw such inferences that appear proper from the failure to do so’.‘Yes, My Lord,’ the barrister replied.Owens, dressed in an unzipped light grey top over a darker grey T-shirt, sat listening in the glass-panelled dock with his hands clasped in front of him. Nathan Owens, 34, arrested on suspicion of murdering his stepdaughter, Carla Georgescu, in police bodycam footage played at his murder trial at Preston Crown Court Carla Georgescu, a 19-year-old clinical psychology student at the University of Lancashire, was allegedly strangled and murdered by her stepfather Nathan OwensOn February 1, Janina and Owens had a birthday dinner with Carla in Preston and she was left alone at one point with her stepfather where they are both seen preoccupied with their phonesWith no evidence submitted by the defence, the trial was then adjourned until tomorrow when the jury is expected to hear closing speeches.Footage played to the trial shows Carla – wearing a fluffy dressing gown and pyjamas – letting Owens into Ribble Hall, her block of student flats at the University of Lancashire, at around 4am on February 4, his head hidden by a patterned blanket.He was captured leaving the building around an hour-and-a-half later, 'shielding' himself with an umbrella and wearing a face-mask while wearing Carla's trainers and carrying two bags.Owens then drove back home to Hartlepool, allegedly stopping en route to dump items including bedding later found to contain traces of Carla’s DNA.His Romanian wife Janina has told jurors he did not mention having been to see her daughter in the night when she awoke later that morning.She became worried when Carla did not respond to her messages and phone calls, and the following day – which would have been Carla's 20th birthday – she contacted university security.They carried out a welfare check and discovered her body slumped against a wardrobe door with a belt around her neck.Officers called to the couple’s home later on February 5 and told them ‘it looks like she has hung herself’, jurors have heard. Carla Georgescu, in a fluffy dressing gown, caught on CCTV letting her stepfather Nathan Owens, 34, into her university accommodation in Preston at around 4am on February 4, 2026, with his face covered by a blanket Owens captured leaving the building around an hour-and-a-half later, 'shielding' himself from cameras with an umbrella and face-mask, while wearing Carla's trainers and carrying two bagsHours later, Owens was allegedly carrying out web searches about how police investigate suspicious deaths and wiping his electronic devices.Footage played in court last week shows the moment officers from Lancashire arrive at his house to arrest him on suspicion of murder on February 7.Owens looks impassive and nods as he is cautioned before being handcuffed.Before his arrest, Owens told Ms Georgescu he went to Preston that night because Carla had wanted him to take incontinence pants to her and help her tidy her room.But the prosecution say this was an attempt to 'cover his tracks' and 'keep his wife onside' and that the truth is that he brutally attacked Carla before fleeing the scene, dumping evidence and attempting to cover his tracks.The prosecution allege he had become 'sexually fixated' with Carla and her death was the culmination of weeks, months and perhaps years of a 'one-sided sexual obsession'.He is also said to have taken photos of Carla without her knowledge, filmed himself having sex with her dolls and toys, and manipulated an innocent image of her so it appeared sexual.Owens denies charges of murder and grievous bodily harm with intent.A count of intentional strangulation was today withdrawn, with the judge telling jurors it ‘substantially duplicates’ the count of murder.The trial continues.