A 70-year-old woman has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 22 years for murdering her sister in a London flat and stealing her gold Rolex watch. Nancy Pexton was convicted on Wednesday at the Old Bailey for the murder of Jennifer Abbott, a 69-year-old film director, on 10 June last year.
Brutal Attack and Lack of Remorse
Judge Dhir, sentencing Pexton on Friday, stated that the attack was marked by ferocity and that Pexton had intended to kill her sister. The judge highlighted Pexton's callous attitude and absence of remorse, noting that taping Abbott's mouth was a deliberate act of degradation. The court heard that Pexton stabbed Abbott 10 times, leaving her body undiscovered for three days in the Camden flat.
Jealousy and Theft
The judge remarked that Pexton took the Rolex watch because of its value and her jealousy over Abbott's greater financial security. The watch, a gift from Abbott's son Brad Carlson, was recovered from Pexton's bag in hospital after she was arrested. Pexton claimed she was given the watch to look after, but the court rejected this.
Timeline of Events
On the day of the murder, Abbott was captured on a doorbell camera returning from walking her corgi at 7:36 am. Pexton spoke to her by phone at 11:36 am and arrived at Abbott's flat in Mornington Place by bus at 12:45 pm, leaving an hour later. She then called her GP, reported an overdose, and was taken to hospital, where she was arrested on 18 June.
Three days after the murder, a concerned neighbor used a scaffolding pole to break down the door after Abbott's niece, Mai Pexton, was seen banging and shouting. Abbott's partially naked body was found on the living room floor with gaffer tape over her mouth and a large slash wound across her neck.
Family Resentment
Brad Carlson testified about a bubbling resentment between his mother and aunt, describing interactions marked by anger and hostility. The case highlights the tragic consequences of long-standing familial conflict.
