Key Points
- Nancy Pexton has been found guilty at the Old Bailey of murdering her sister, film director Jennifer Abbott, in Camden, north London.
- Prosecutors said Pexton fatally stabbed and slashed Abbott at her flat in Mornington Place on 10 June last year.
- The victim was found three days later on the living room floor with gaffer tape over her mouth and injuries to her neck.
- Jurors heard that Abbott’s diamond-encrusted gold Rolex watch, which she rarely removed, was missing and later found in Pexton’s bag.
- Pexton had denied murder, but the jury convicted her on Wednesday.
- The case centred on whether Pexton killed Abbott during a visit to the flat and then took the watch.
Camden (North London News) April 29, 2026 — A woman has been found guilty of murdering her sister and stealing her diamond-encrusted Rolex watch after a killing in north London that prosecutors said involved multiple stab and slash wounds, a missing personal possession, and a body left undiscovered for three days.
What did the jury hear?
As reported by Bill Boyce KC for the prosecution, there was no evidence that Jennifer Abbott was alive after Nancy Pexton visited her flat on 10 June last year.
The court heard that the sisters spoke by phone at 11.36 am, and Pexton later travelled by bus to Abbott’s Camden flat at 12.45 pm before staying there for around an hour. Prosecutors told jurors that after the visit, Pexton called her GP and said she had taken an overdose, before being taken to hospital by ambulance.
The prosecution’s case, as set out in court, was that Pexton could not remember the previous 90 minutes, which prosecutors said was the period in which she was in her sister’s flat and carried out the killing. Jurors were also told that Abbott was especially attached to her Rolex watch and did not usually remove it, making its absence a significant part of the case.
The watch was later found when police searched Pexton’s bag, and she allegedly replied that it was her sister’s and that she had been asked to look after it.
How was the body discovered?
Abbott’s body was found on the afternoon of 13 June after a neighbour forced entry into the flat because he was concerned that he could not hear her corgi, Prince, barking.
The court heard that the dog had been locked in the bathroom and was later rescued by firefighters. Neighbours and family members had become worried after repeated attempts to contact Abbott had failed.
When the neighbour entered the property, he found Abbott partially naked and decomposing on the living room floor. Jurors heard that gaffer tape was over her mouth and that she had a large slash-type wound to her neck.
A post-mortem examination later found multiple stab and slash wounds, together with a defensive wound to her right hand.
What was the defence?
Pexton denied murder, and the Old Bailey trial centred on whether she was responsible for Abbott’s death. According to the report, she was of no fixed address and had been staying near Baker Street at the time of the case. The jury was asked to consider the timeline of her visit, the later discovery of the body, and the recovery of the watch.
The court also heard evidence about messages between the sisters, with one report saying the prosecution cited a message in which Pexton allegedly told Abbott that she had been “planning to kill you”. That material formed part of the wider picture presented to jurors about the relationship between the sisters.
Why does the case matter?
The case drew attention because it involved a family member, a high-value personal item, and a violent death in a residential part of Camden. It also raised questions in court about motive, timing, and what happened during the brief period when Pexton visited Abbott’s home. The prosecution linked the killing to the missing Rolex, while the defence denied responsibility.
The reporting across outlets remained consistent on the main facts: the location was Camden, the victim was Jennifer Abbott, the accused was Nancy Pexton, and the conviction was returned at the Old Bailey on 29 April 2026.
The Standard also reported that Abbott was a film director, while other outlets described her as a film-maker and documentary director. Those descriptions referred to the same victim in the case.
Background of the development
The case began with Abbott’s death in June last year and moved through the investigation, arrest, and trial at the Old Bailey.
Early reporting said a woman had been arrested on suspicion of the “Rolex murder” after Abbott was found stabbed to death in her Camden flat. Subsequent court hearings detailed the prosecution’s claim that Pexton visited the flat, the killing took place there, and the watch was later recovered by police.
Later coverage said Pexton had allegedly sent threatening messages to Abbott, including language suggesting violence, before the killing. When the verdict was returned, the case reached its final stage at the Old Bailey, with the jury accepting the prosecution’s account. The conviction closed a case that had been closely followed because of the family connection, the circumstances of the death, and the missing watch.
Prediction
For Abbott’s family and close circle, the conviction is likely to bring a formal conclusion to the criminal process, although it will not remove the impact of the loss. For readers following the case, the next stage is likely to focus on sentencing and any further legal reporting from the court. For the wider public, the case may be used in future reporting as an example of how domestic family disputes can escalate into serious violence in an ordinary residential setting.
In practical terms, the development is unlikely to change daily life for most people, but it may heighten attention around neighbour concerns, welfare checks, and the importance of responding quickly when someone has not been seen or heard from. It also shows how police and prosecutors can build a case from timelines, phone records, injuries, and recovered property when a suspect denies the allegation.
