Jennifer Abbott was found dead at her Camden Town home last year

A WOMAN accused of killing her older sister and stealing her treasured diamond encrusted watch told her she should “bury herself” if she were to ever die, a court has heard.

Nancy Pexton, 70 appeared via video link at the Old Bailey on Tuesday, and is accused of killing her sister, Jennifer Abbott in her flat in Mornington Place, Camden Town, on June 10 last year. She denies murder.

Prosecutor Bill Boyce KC read a text message to jurors from Ms Pexton to her sister which said: “I don’t have a sister anymore you are dead to me. If you die I won’t come to your funeral in a Jewish Cemetery… bury yourself you lying whore.”

Ms Abbott, also known as Sarah Steinberg, shared the message and others with her only son, Brad Carlson, who appeared via video link at the Old Bailey from Spain. While giving evidence Mr Boyce asked Mr Carlson what the two women’s relationship was like.

“There was a chemistry between them,” he said. “There was a lot of love and sometimes there was anger and resentment.”

An autopsy found Ms Abbott had been stabbed and slashed and she had a single defence wound to her right hand.

Her gold Rolex watch was missing and she was found covered in a blanket and her mouth sealed with gaffer tape.

Ms Pexton was arrested five days later when her sister’s watch was found in one of her bags. When questioned by police about the watch Ms Pexton had said “oh yes that’s my sister’s, she asked me to look after it”.

Mr Carlson, said he bought the gold, diamond encrusted Rolex as a gift for his mother in 2004 and said she had indicated to him she would “never part with the watch.”

He said he spoke to his mother on the phone six to seven times a week, three to four times a day, and that “I was arguably the closest person to her in the world.”

He told the court he first became concerned about his mother on June 12 after not hearing from her, and that his messages were not being shown as delivered on WhatsApp. “I went into panic mode,” he told the court.

He added: “I could not sleep at all that night. I knew there was something wrong.” Ms Abbott was found stabbed to death in her flat in Mornington Crescent, on June 13.

The court was told the condition of the victim’s body suggested she had already been dead for three days.

A neighbour forced open the door after concerns Ms Abbott’s corgi, Prince, could not be heard barking as usual.

The trial continues.