Nancy Pexton, 70, slashed and stabbed her film director sister Jennifer Abbott, 69, 10 times and taped up her mouth with gaffer tape in an ‘intentional act of degradation’ before stealing her Rolex
A “callous and cruel” woman who slit the throat of her film director sister before making off with her diamond-encrusted gold Rolex watch has been jailed for life.
Nancy Pexton, 70, slashed and stabbed Jennifer Abbott 10 times and taped up her mouth with gaffer tape in an “intentional act of degradation” on June 10 last year.
Ms Abbott was then left dead or dying in her flat in Camden, north London, for three days before a neighbour became concerned and found her body, without her prized Rolex watch. Pexton, of no fixed address, was found guilty of murder at the Old Bailey and was jailed for life on Friday with a minimum term of 22 years.
When police recovered the Rolex from Pexton’s bag, she claimed her sister had given it to her to “look after”. Pexton went on to claim she got blood all over her clothes when she hugged Ms Abbott while she was having a nosebleed.
However, messages from months before exposed the depths of Pexton’s jealousy and animosity towards her more successful sibling.
She wrote: “I’m planning to kill my sister whom I love but she destroyed my life. Loose lips, loose lips can sink ships – and she sank my ship.”
Sentencing, Judge Anuja Dhir KC told Pexton that she was sure she intended to kill her sister, given the “ferocity” of the attack. She said: “Your actions and conduct after the killing demonstrates not only your absence of remorse but also a deliberate and callous attitude towards what you had done.”
The judge declared that taping up her sister’s mouth was a “deliberate act of degradation” which was “callous, demeaning and cruel”. She continued: “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.”
Previously, 69-year-old Ms Abbott’s only son Brad Carlson branded the murder as a “monstrous” and “heinous” act by someone he had attempted to assist in the past.
Mr Carlson said losing his mother, who had dedicated herself to supporting him, was an “unbelievable nightmare”.
In tribute, he called Ms Abbott his “hero” and “role model”, who had overcome her early struggles in life, purchased property, authored books and produced films.
He said: “She was a single mother raising her only child, committed to providing me with the life she was not lucky enough to have – boarding school, quality education. Most importantly she gave me love and a feeling of belonging and pride. She was my whole world, she was everything to me.”
Earlier, the court was told how US citizen Ms Abbott, 69, was last captured alive on a doorbell camera as she returned from walking her corgi Prince at 7.36am on June 10 last year.
Pexton contacted her by telephone at 11.36am and travelled by bus to her Mornington Place flat at 12.45pm, departing an hour later. She subsequently contacted her GP, reported taking an overdose and was taken to hospital where she remained until her arrest on June 18.
On June 13, a neighbour utilised a scaffolding pole to break down Ms Abbott’s door after growing concerned when he couldn’t hear her dog barking.
Ms Abbott’s partially clothed and decomposing body was discovered on the living room floor. She had a large, gaping “slash-type” wound across her neck and gaffer tape over her mouth, the jury heard.
Ms Abbott’s corgi had been confined in the kitchen and was liberated by firefighters. Her Rolex watch, a gift from Mr Carlson which she never removed, was missing.
Months earlier, Ms Abbott had confided in her nephew that she feared for her safety as Pexton was “capable of anything”. In notes on her phone, Pexton, who was suffering from depression, wrote that she was contemplating killing her “evil” sister.
Following her arrest, Pexton told police she had merely been “venting” her feelings and had no recollection of the 90 minutes covering the time spent in her flat.
However, an examination of her black cowboy hat and blue dungarees revealed they were stained with her sister’s blood.
Evidence also suggested someone had attempted to “clean up” in Ms Abbott’s flat. Pexton, of no fixed address, denied any wrongdoing and chose not to testify in her trial, opting to appear in court via videolink from Bronzefield jail.
Devi Kharran, representing the Crown Prosecution Service, stated: “Today, Nancy Pexton has been sentenced to life with a minimum term of 22 years’ imprisonment for the murder of her own sister, Jennifer Abbott.
“Ms Abbott’s death is an unimaginable tragedy. While no sentence can bring her back, I hope today’s outcome can give her family and friends some sense of closure. They have shown tremendous strength throughout this process, and our thoughts remain with them.
“Pexton carried out a brutal and callous attack, taking Ms Abbott’s life in the very place she should have felt safest, at the hands of someone she should have been able to trust. She then attempted to cover her tracks, took her sister’s most treasured possession, and repeatedly denied what she had done.
“This was a complex case, but working closely with the Metropolitan Police, we as prosecutors carefully examined witness accounts, forensic evidence, phone data and CCTV to piece together the truth and ensure Jennifer Abbott received the justice she deserved.”