Woman killed sister and snatched Rolex, court told

Woman Killed Sister and Snatched Rolex, Court Told

Details of the Crime and Discovery

A 69-year-old woman is accused of fatally stabbing her older sibling, Jennifer Abbott Dauward—also known as Sarah Steinberg—at her flat in Mornington Place, Camden, north London, on 10 June. The Old Bailey heard that the victim’s body was discovered three days later on the living room floor, with a neck wound and a strip of gaffer tape covering her mouth. The Rolex watch, which the victim was said to cherish and rarely removed, was missing from her attire when her body was found.

Prosecution’s Case and Timeline

Prosecutor Bill Boyce KC opened the trial by stating there was no evidence Abbott was alive after Nancy Pexton visited her on 10 June. The sisters had spoken via phone at 11:36 BST, and Pexton arrived at her sister’s flat by bus at 12:45 BST, staying for an hour. Pexton later called her GP, claiming she had taken an overdose, and was transported to hospital. There, she allegedly instructed one of her daughters to handle her clothes, either washing them or discarding them, according to the prosecution.

Boyce told the court: “She said she could not remember what had happened in the previous 90 minutes, which was the period we say she was undoubtedly in her sister’s flat, the period we say she murdered her sister.”

Neighbor’s Intervention and Post-Mortem Findings

Three days after the incident, a neighbor broke into Abbott’s flat after noticing the absence of her corgi’s barking, which he described as unusual. Upon entering, he alerted emergency services after finding the body. The corgi had been locked in the bathroom, and firefighters later freed it. A post-mortem revealed the victim had suffered multiple stab and slash wounds, along with a single defensive wound on her right hand.

Sentimental Value of the Stolen Item

The prosecution emphasized the significance of Abbott’s Cartier bracelet and diamond-encrusted Rolex watch, calling them items of “real sentimental value.” The watch was later recovered from Pexton’s bag, and the defendant allegedly stated: “Oh yes, that’s my sister’s. She asked me to look after it,” according to Boyce.

Defense’s Explanation and Trial Status

Nancy Pexton, who has no fixed address, denies the murder charge. She claimed the blood on her body was from hugging her sister, who had a nosebleed at the time. The trial continues as jurors weigh the evidence presented by both sides.

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