A woman who stabbed her sister to death in her London flat and stole her gold Rolex watch has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 22 years. Nancy Pexton, 70, was convicted of murdering Jennifer Abbott, a 69-year-old film director, at the Old Bailey on Wednesday.
The court heard that Pexton stabbed Abbott ten times at her flat in Camden on 10 June last year. The victim's partially naked body was found three days later by a neighbour who broke down the door, with gaffer tape over her mouth and a large slash-type wound across her neck.
Sentencing Pexton on Friday, Judge Dhir said the ferocity of the attack showed she intended to kill her sister. The judge noted that Pexton showed no remorse and described her actions as callous and cruel, particularly taping her sister's mouth, which was deemed a deliberate act of degradation.
The judge added that Pexton took the Rolex watch, a gift from Abbott's son, because it was valuable and because she was jealous of her sister's financial security. The watch was recovered from Pexton's bag while she was in hospital after reporting an overdose.
Abbott's son, Brad Carlson, testified about a bubbling resentment between his mother and aunt, which sometimes turned to anger and hostility. Pexton was arrested on 18 June after being discharged from hospital.
