Woman stabbed eight times in her Camden flat, court hears

A film director found dead with her Rolex watch missing had been stabbed in the neck eight times, the Old Bailey has heard.

Jennifer Abbott Dauward – also known as Sarah Steinberg – was discovered on the floor of her flat in Camden, north London, partially covered with a blanket and with black tape on her mouth, the court was told.

Ms Abbott, 69, was last seen alive on CCTV footage on 10 June as she returned from walking her dog.

Her sister Nancy Pexton, 69, is accused of murder. Ms Pexton, who is nine months younger than her sister, was remanded in custody until a plea hearing set for 9 September.

A post-mortem examination found Ms Abbott’s cause of death was sharp trauma to the neck, with eight stab wounds identified, the court was told.

Prosecutor Ben Holt said the victim would usually wear a Rolex and a Cartier bracelet but when her body was found, the watch was missing.

Police were called to the victim’s first-floor flat in Mornington Place at 17:45 BST on 13 June after being alerted by her concerned niece.

Paramedics attended and she was pronounced dead shortly after 18:00.

A neighbour described Ms Dauward as “exuberant” and “vivacious”, and others said they regularly saw her walking her corgi in the area.

Ms Pexton, who was arrested on 18 June, spoke only to confirm her identity by video-link from Bronzefield Prison during the preliminary hearing.

A provisional trial date was set for 7 April.