Woman accused of murdering film director sister and stealing her Rolex felt unappreciated, court hears

A woman accused of cutting her sister's throat and stealing her diamond-encrusted Rolex felt "unappreciated" by her, a court has heard.

Nancy Pexton, 70, allegedly stabbed and slashed her sibling, Jennifer Abbott, at her flat in Camden in north London on 10 June last year.

Ms Abbott, a film director, was found dead by a neighbour on the floor of her living room with gaffer tape over her mouth three days later.

Ms Abbott's son Brad Carlson told jurors at the Old Bailey on Tuesday about the "bubbling" resentment between his mother and aunt.

Over video-link, he told the court he had received several messages from Pexton expressing her "anger and resentment and furiousness" towards Ms Abbott.

Mr Carlson added: "She was angry - I think there was at times a feeling of disrespect.

"I think a feeling that she was unappreciated and that my mother had not shown gratitude for some of the things Nancy had done and been there for her," he said.

Mr Carlson, who bought his mother the Rolex, said he "wanted people to get along" and encouraged them to make "peace".

He said: "I asked my mother to be more gentle and sometimes more careful in her words. Sometimes people need to be treated more gently."

He added that he felt "empathy" and "love" for Pexton.

Pexton was arrested on 18 June after her sister's watch was discovered in her bag.

She has denied murdering her sister and claimed Ms Abbott gave her the Rolex to "keep for her", jurors heard.

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The court heard Pexton called Ms Abbott nine times on the day she died, with the final call lasting just over 15 minutes.

Prosecutor Bill Boyce KC told the court it was "no coincidence" Ms Abbott was not seen or heard from after she took her corgi dog, Prince, for a walk that morning.

He alleged Pexton was the last person to see Ms Abbott alive having fatally attacked her in her home and leaving just before 2pm.

The court also heard that Ms Abbott had told her nephew Feras Abukhait she thought Pexton was "capable of anything", and she feared for her safety.

Ms Abbott allegedly told Mr Abukhait that Pexton had attempted to murder two of her boyfriends and hired two people to beat up someone called David.

Ms Abbott also asked her nephew if she should apply for a restraining order and wrote a note about it on a scrap of paper, jurors heard.

The trial continues.

(c) Sky News 2026: Woman accused of murdering film director sister and stealing her Rolex felt unappreciate