Woman sentenced following vicious murder of her sister

A woman has been jailed after a meticulous Met investigation found her guilty of stabbing her sister to death in Camden.

Nancy Pexton, 70 (10.04.1956), of Gloucester Place, Westminster appeared at the Old Bailey on Friday, 1 May where she was sentenced to life in prison, to serve a minimum of 22 years.

This comes after a jury at the Old Bailey found her guilty of murder on Wednesday, 29 April.

The sentence follows a robust investigation which combined forensic, CCTV and digital enquiries which proved that on 10 June 2025, Pexton fatally stabbed her sister, Jennifer Abbott, also known as Sarah Steinberg.

Detective Inspector Barry Hart, who led the investigation, said:

“The sentence handed down today reflects the gravity of this murder and ensures that Pexton will spend a substantial period of time in prison.

“From the outset, Pexton denied responsibility for her sister’s death, but the evidence uncovered during this investigation tells a different story. Throughout the determined investigation, officers were able to unpick Pexton’s action and support the successful prosecution that has brought about today’s sentence.

“While no sentence can undo the devastation caused to Jennifer’s family and friends, this sentence demonstrates that those who commit the most serious offences will be relentlessly pursued and brought to justice.”

The investigation

In the early evening of Friday, 13 June 2025, a family member attended Jennifer's flat in Mornington Place, Camden, after repeated attempts to contact Jennifer went unanswered.

The flat door was locked and despite knocking repeatedly, there was no response from inside. With the help of a neighbour, they gained entry into the flat. Inside the living room, Jennifer was discovered lying on the floor with severe stab wounds to the neck.

Police and the London Ambulance Service attended, however Jennifer was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

Detectives launched a murder investigation and focused on piecing together Jennifer’s final days.

Their enquiries revealed that Pexton was the last person known to have seen her sister alive, having visited the flat on Tuesday, 10 June. CCTV footage showed Pexton travelling to the address and leaving later that day, after which there were no further confirmed sightings of Jennifer.

As the investigation progressed, officers uncovered further evidence linking Pexton to the brutal murder and she was arrested on Tuesday, 18 June. When officers searched her belongings, they discovered a Rolex watch, which was a match to the one Jennifer was seen to be wearing in photos shared by her family with police.

Detectives were then able to confirm that it belonged to Jennifer and had gone missing after her death.

Alongside this, detectives uncovered significant forensic and digital evidence. Pexton’s DNA was identified on duct tape used to bind Jennifer’s mouth during the attack. In addition, analysis of Pexton’s phone found notes referring to plans to kill her sister. There was also a message from Jennifer where she expressed concerns that her sister was going to kill her.

Pexton denied responsibility but on 20 June 2025, she was charged with murder.