A woman accused of butchering her own sister and stealing her luxury Rolex watch will face trial next month, as confirmed in a court hearing. Nancy Pexton, aged 69, is alleged to have carried out a brutal knife attack on her sibling, Jennifer Abbott, a film director and author, before taking the diamond-encrusted timepiece she was known to wear daily.
Discovery of the Crime Scene
Ms Abbott, who also used the name Sarah Steinberg, was discovered dead in her Camden flat days after she was last seen alive, sparking a murder investigation. Neighbours and her niece were forced to break into the property on Mornington Place on June 13 after growing concerned for her welfare, where they made the grim discovery.
Inside the flat, her pet Corgi named Prince had been shut in a bathroom and left without food for three days, the court was told. Pexton, who lives in nearby Marylebone and is just months younger than her sister, has entered a plea of not guilty to the murder charge.
Court Proceedings and Evidence
She appeared at the Old Bailey for a brief hearing, where Judge Mark Lucraft confirmed the case is scheduled to be heard from April 7. Earlier, prosecutor Ben Holt detailed the events, stating that the deceased and the defendant were sisters. On June 13, shortly before 6 p.m., police were called to the address in Mornington Place.
A report was made by the deceased's niece, who attended the property out of concern for her aunt's well-being and found the door locked securely with no response to knocking. A neighbour assisted by forcing entry, and the deceased was found lying on the living room floor covered by a blanket.
When the blanket was moved, signs of blood and decomposition were visible, with a smear of blood around the body and black adhesive tape around the mouth. A roll of duct tape with blood on the outer surface was discovered in the kitchen, with evidence suggesting it was applied after the fatal injuries.
The knife block in the kitchen had one knife missing, and blood smears were found on the kitchen worktops. Ambulance services attended and pronounced life extinct at 6:06 p.m. Her niece reported that Ms Abbott would routinely wear a valuable Rolex watch and Cartier bracelet, which were worn habitually and not removed.
Missing Watch and Cause of Death
The Rolex was not found on the deceased's body. The cause of death was determined to be sharp trauma to the neck behind the collar bone, with eight wounds around the neck and upper back, including a slash on the neck. The last sighting of the deceased was at 7:30 a.m. on the morning of June 10, when she was seen returning to her home address after walking her dog.
Pexton was arrested at a hospital on June 18, and it is alleged that the Rolex watch was found in her property bag. Ms Abbott had moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career as a film producer, directing films and writing several novels, adding a layer of tragedy to the case as her creative legacy is overshadowed by this violent incident.
