A film director was found dead with her Rolex missing; the court at the Old Bailey heard she had been stabbed in the neck eight times.
Jennifer Abbott Dauward, who also went by the name Sarah Steinberg, was discovered lying on the floor of her Camden flat in North London, partially covered by a blanket and with her mouth taped shut, according to court testimony.
The 69-year-old was last seen on CCTV on 10 June when she returned from a dog walk.
Her sister, Nancy Pexton, 69, is facing murder charges. Ms. Pexton, who is younger than her sister by nine months, is currently held in custody until a plea hearing scheduled for 9 September.
A post-mortem investigation determined that sharp trauma to the neck, constituting eight stab wounds, was the cause of Ms. Abbott’s death, the court heard.
Prosecutor Ben Holt noted that the victim was known to typically wear a Rolex and a Cartier bracelet, but the watch was absent when her body was discovered.
Authorities were contacted regarding the victim’s first-floor apartment on Mornington Place at 17:45 BST on 13 June after her niece expressed concerns. Paramedics arrived, but she was declared dead shortly after 18:00.
A neighbor characterized Ms. Dauward as “exuberant” and “vivacious,” with others mentioning that they frequently saw her walking her corgi nearby.
Ms. Pexton, arrested on 18 June, only spoke during the initial hearing to confirm her identity via video-link from Bronzefield Prison.
A preliminary date for the trial has been set for 7 April.
