A woman has appeared in court charged with murdering her 69-year-old sister who was discovered stabbed inside her north London home.

In a short hearing at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court, Nancy Pexton, also 69, spoke only to confirm her name and date of birth.

Jennifer Abbott, also known as Sarah Steinberg, was found dead at her flat in Camden last Friday. She was discovered by her niece and neighbours, who broke her door down after her family had not heard from her for several days.

A post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as sharp force trauma.

It is understood Ms Pexton is nine months younger than Ms Abbott.

Neighbours said they regularly saw Ms Abbott walking her pet corgi in the area, with one describing her as “exuberant” and “vivacious”.

Another neighbour said: “She used to walk the dog every couple of days. She kept herself to herself, she wasn’t too sociable but kind, polite and well-mannered.”

The corgi had been shut in the bathroom for three days before Ms Abbott was found, and survived.

The Metropolitan Police previously said officers were investigating whether Ms Abbott’s death was linked to a diamond-encrusted Rolex missing from her home.

At the hearing, Ms Pexton was remanded in custody and is due to appear at the Old Bailey on 24 June.