Woman Accused of Fatally Attacking Sister in Camden Flat and Stealing Valuable Rolex Watch
A shocking trial at the Old Bailey has heard allegations that a woman brutally killed her own sister in a Camden flat before stealing her diamond-encrusted gold Rolex watch. Nancy Pexton, 69, stands accused of murdering her older sibling, Jennifer Abbott, at the victim's north London residence on June 10 last year.
Discovery of the Victim's Body
Three days after the alleged attack, a concerned neighbor forced open Ms. Abbott's door after noticing the unusual absence of barking from her corgi dog, Prince. The neighbor discovered Ms. Abbott's body on the living room floor with a severe neck wound and gaffer tape covering her mouth. The victim was found partially naked and in a state of decomposition, having been deceased for several days.
The Missing Rolex Watch
Prosecutor Bill Boyce KC told jurors that Ms. Abbott was not wearing her cherished Rolex watch, which she was "greatly attached to" and typically never removed. The diamond-encrusted timepiece held significant sentimental value for the victim, who also regularly wore a Cartier bracelet. During a police search of Pexton's belongings, the watch was discovered in her bag. When confronted, the defendant allegedly responded, "Oh yes, that's my sister's. She asked me to look after it."
Timeline of Events
The court heard that the sisters had a telephone conversation at 11:36 AM on June 10. Pexton then traveled by bus to Ms. Abbott's Mornington Place flat, arriving at 12:45 PM and remaining for approximately one hour. Doorbell camera footage captured Ms. Abbott returning to her building after walking her dog at 7:36 AM that same day, marking the last confirmed sighting of her alive.
Following the alleged killing, Pexton contacted her general practitioner to report having taken an overdose. She was subsequently transported to a hospital by ambulance, where she remained until her arrest on June 18. During questioning, Pexton claimed she could not recall events from the previous 90 minutes—the period prosecutors assert she was undoubtedly in her sister's flat committing murder.
Additional Disturbing Details
A post-mortem examination revealed Ms. Abbott sustained multiple stab and slash wounds, along with a single defensive injury to her right hand. The victim's corgi dog had been confined to the bathroom during the incident but was found to be in good health, having been fed and watered. Firefighters later freed the animal, which was then cared for by the victim's niece, Mai Pexton.
Pexton, who was effectively homeless and staying near Baker Street at the time, is nine months younger than her sister and was approaching her 70th birthday. The central question before the court is whether Pexton, a mother of two adult daughters, is responsible for her sister's death.
Community Tributes to the Victim
Neighbors and friends described Jennifer Abbott as a "lovely, vivacious" woman with a vibrant personality. One neighbor recalled, "She was very exuberant, very vivacious. She was a doctor, but she was also an actor and director in America. She'd directed a movie and I looked at it on YouTube and saw her interviewed in Los Angeles. She was a character. She was lovely." Ms. Abbott's professional accomplishments as a film director added to the tragedy of her untimely death.
Nancy Pexton has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. The trial at the Old Bailey continues as prosecutors present their case against the defendant, focusing on the violent nature of the attack and the theft of the valuable Rolex watch.
