A woman who murdered her sister in her London flat and stole her gold Rolex watch has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 22 years. Nancy Pexton, 70, stabbed Jennifer Abbott ten times and left her body to be found three days later in the property in Camden, a court heard.
On Wednesday, an Old Bailey jury convicted Pexton of murdering Abbott, a film director, on 10 June last year. Sentencing Pexton on Friday, Judge Dhir said she was sure Pexton had intended to kill her sister, given the “ferocity” of the attack. The judge noted that Pexton showed no remorse and had a “callous attitude” towards her actions.
The judge said taping up her sister’s mouth was a “deliberate act of degradation” which was “callous, demeaning and cruel”. She added: “This act demonstrates the depth of your animosity and hostility towards your sister. You took the watch because it was valuable and because you were jealous of your sister’s greater financial security.”
Abbott, a 69-year-old US citizen, was captured on a doorbell camera as she returned from walking her corgi, Prince, at 7.36am on 10 June 2025. Pexton spoke to her by phone at 11.36am and travelled by bus to her flat in Mornington Place at 12.45pm, leaving an hour later. She then called her GP, reported taking an overdose and was taken to hospital, where she was arrested on 18 June.
On 13 June, a neighbour used a scaffolding pole to break down Abbott’s door after becoming concerned. Abbott’s partially naked body was found on the living room floor with gaffer tape over her mouth and a large, “slash-type” wound across her neck. Her Rolex, a gift from her son, Brad Carlson, which she never took off, was missing. It was recovered by police from Pexton’s bag in hospital. When questioned, Pexton said she had been given it to “look after”.
Carlson told the court of a “bubbling” resentment between his mother and aunt. Giving evidence via video link, he said: “There was interaction and sometimes anger and hostility between my mother and Nancy, there was resentment seemingly bubbling up.”
