Overview
- A jury at Preston Crown Court found Nathan Owens guilty of murder and grievous bodily harm on Thursday after about three hours of deliberation.
- Prosecutors presented CCTV that placed Owens at the University of Lancashire halls in the early hours, telematics from his Ford Puma that traced his route home and searches that recovered the victim’s phone and bloodied items.
- Forensic analysis of Owens’ devices showed secret photographs, doctored indecent images and videos of sexual activity with an effigy, which prosecutors said illustrated a long‑running sexual fixation on his stepdaughter.
- Owens gave false accounts to his wife and investigators, carried out internet searches about police inquiries and chose not to give evidence at trial; the judge told jurors they could draw inferences from his silence.
- The case will be formally sentenced on Friday when the judge sets the minimum term of the life sentence, and the trial has highlighted how CCTV, telematics and digital‑device forensics are being used to investigate exploitation and staged deaths.