Woman told sister she was 'planning to kill her'

A woman accused of cutting her film director sister's throat and making off with her Rolex watch told her she was "planning to kill" her months before, a court has heard.

Nancy Pexton, 70, is accused of attacking Jennifer Abbott Dauward at her flat in Mornington Place, Camden, north London, on 10 June last year.

Prosecutor Bill Boyce KC read a message to the Old Bailey jury from Pexton to her sister which said: "You know I was planning to kill you but it was just a thought, I would never hurt you."

Pexton, of no fixed address, told police in a statement she and her sister "were very close", the court heard. She denies murder.

A message Pexton sent to Abbott was read to the jury, which said: "You know Jenny, I always loved you from my heart and you betrayed me in every way because you jealous of me all the time since we were kids and your jealousy turned to hate."

Abbott shared the message with her nephew in November 2024 which warned her to "watch your back from those you conned and stole money from", the court heard.

Pexton, who turned 70 on Friday, also wrote: "You never know they could get you while you walking your dog. Be careful honey, I worry about you. You so many enemy (sic)."

Ms Abbott told her nephew she thought Pexton was "capable of anything" and asked him if she should apply for a restraining order and wrote a note about it, jurors heard.

She allegedly told him Pexton attempted to murder two of her boyfriends and hired two people to beat up someone called David.

Boyce said Pexton's message to her sister may have been caused by hate coupled with "jealousy and abuse".

Notes found on Pexton's phone referred to thoughts about killing her sister, the court was told.

The day before Abbott's death, Pexton messaged her: "Bless you, you sounded shocked that I'm coming to c u now. Sorry I scared you Thursday or Friday (sic)."

Abbott was found dead on the floor of her living room with gaffer tape covering her mouth on 13 June after a neighbour broke down the door.

Pexton was then arrested five days later when her sister's watch was found in her bag.

She denied killing her sister and claimed Ms Abbott had given her the Rolex to "keep for her", jurors heard.

In statements to police she said she loved her sister and would never harm her, claiming notes on her phone and the message to Abbott were examples of "venting" her feelings.

"My sister and I were very close and we would have arguments like many siblings but we would always make up and move on," the court was told.

She claimed Abbott's blood had got on her clothes because she hugged her while she was having a nosebleed, the Old Bailey jury heard.

Boyce said there was scientific analysis that she got covered in blood from stabbing her sister multiple times.

He added there was evidence at Abbott's flat that someone had tried to "clean up".

He told jurors Abbott would not have given away her "prized Rolex watch", which she never took off.

He said: "The reality, of course, is that the defendant took the watch having stabbed her sister to do so."

The trial continues.

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