Jennifer Abbott

A MARYLEBONE woman has gone on trial at the Old Bailey accused of killing her older sister and stealing her treasured diamond encrusted watch.

Nancy Pexton, aged 69, from Dorset House, Marylebone, appeared via video link to deny the charges at the Old Bailey yesterday, Thursday, as the prosecution opened their case to the jury.

Jennifer Abbott, also known as Sarah Steinberg, was found stabbed to death in her flat in Mornington Crescent, on June 13 last year.

An autopsy found she had been stabbed and slashed and she had a single defence wound to her right hand. Her gold Rolex watch was missing and she was found covered in a blanket and her mouth sealed with gaffer tape, the court heard.

Prosecutor Bill Boyce KC said: “Nancy Pexton visited her sister at her home address. She stayed there for about an hour. The prosecution alleges during that hour she murdered her sister who was alive when she arrived and dead when she left.”

The court heard that Pexton had left the flat and called her GP saying she had taken an overdose. She was taken by ambulance to University College Hospital. She had told the ambulance crews: “I cannot remember what has happened in the last 90 minutes,” the court heard.

Pexton was charged with murder while still in hospital on June 18.

The court was told the Rolex would play a significant role in the prosecution’s case. “Jennifer Abbott would never take the watch off and would wash and sleep in it,” said Boyce. “And the watch was missing. The watch was of great sentimental value to the deceased.”

While Pexton was in hospital, police searched her property.

Boyce added: “In one of her bags was her sister’s watch, the watch she never took off, the watch to which she was very attached.” He told the court that when police questioned her about the watch Pexton had said “oh yes that’s my sister’s, she asked me to look after it”.

The court was told Abbott had spoken to Pexton on the phone on the morning of June 10 before travelling to Mornington Place by bus. In the hour Pexton was there, she murdered her sister, the prosecution barrister said.

Emergency services were called to the flat on June 13 at around 5.45pm.

The court was told the condition of the victim’s body suggested she had already been dead for three days.

A neighbour forced open the door after concerns Abbott’s corgi, Prince, could not be heard barking as usual.

The body was found by her niece Mai Pexton, one of Pexton’s two daughters.

The corgi had been locked in the bathroom, the court heard.

A film director and writer, Abbott had previously lived in Beverly Hills and had won awards for her documentary War of Gods.

The trial continues.