Sister Faces Murder Charges in Brutal Camden Flat Attack
In a shocking case unfolding at the Old Bailey, a 69-year-old woman stands accused of murdering her own sister and stealing a valuable diamond-encrusted gold Rolex watch. Nancy Pexton allegedly carried out the violent attack on her sibling, film director Jennifer Abbott, professionally known as Sarah Steinberg, at Abbott's flat in Camden, north London, on June 10 last year.
Gruesome Discovery and Missing Watch
The court heard that Abbott's body was discovered on the living room floor of her Mornington Place flat on June 13, after a concerned neighbor forced entry due to the unusual silence of her Corgi dog, Prince. The victim had a large, gaping slash wound across her neck and gaffer tape over her mouth. Notably, her cherished Rolex watch, which she was "greatly attached to" and rarely removed, was missing from her wrist.
Prosecutor Bill Boyce KC detailed that the watch, along with a Cartier bracelet, held significant sentimental value for Abbott. During a police search, the Rolex was found in Pexton's bag, to which she allegedly responded, "Oh yes, that's my sister's. She asked me to look after it."
Timeline of Events and Aftermath
Evidence presented in court indicates that Abbott was last seen on doorbell camera footage returning to her building after walking her dog at 7:36 a.m. on June 10. The sisters had a phone conversation at 11:36 a.m., after which Pexton traveled by bus to Abbott's flat, arriving at 12:45 p.m. and staying for approximately an hour. Prosecutors argue there is no evidence Abbott was alive after this visit.
Following the alleged murder, Pexton called her GP claiming she had taken an overdose and was subsequently hospitalized. She was arrested on June 18. In court, Boyce stated that Pexton claimed she could not remember the 90-minute period when she was at her sister's flat, which the prosecution asserts is the time of the murder.
Additional Disturbing Details
The trial revealed further harrowing aspects of the case. Abbott's Corgi, Prince, was found locked in the bathroom, where he had survived without food for three days before being rescued by firefighters. A post-mortem examination showed Abbott sustained multiple stab and slash wounds, including a defensive wound on her right hand.
Pexton, who is effectively homeless and was staying near Baker Street at the time, has denied the murder charge. The central issue in the trial is whether she, a mother of two adult daughters, is responsible for her sister's death. The Old Bailey proceedings continue as the court examines the evidence in this tragic familial crime.
