
Police seek ‘crucial clue' over death of woman stabbed at home
Jennifer Abbott, also known as Sarah Steinberg, was last seen walking her pet Corgi in Camden, north London on June 10, before she was found fatally injured three days later.
An ambulance crew was called to her home in Mornington Place, Camden around 6pm on June 13, and she was pronounced dead at the scene.
A post-mortem examination was carried out on Sunday June 15 and gave cause of death as sharp force trauma.
The diamond diamond encrusted Rolex owned by 69-year-old Jennifer Abbott (Metropolitan Police/PA)
Chief Superintendent Jason Stewart said: 'We are working closely with our colleagues in the homicide team to establish exactly what happened and it's incredibly important that we hear from anyone who may have knowledge about how this awful death occurred.
'Were you out in Camden on Friday?
'Perhaps you had been coming home from work, or at an event nearby?
'Did you see or hear anything around Mornington Place that struck you as being unusual?
'Someone must have seen or heard something and no piece of information is too small.
'It could be the crucial clue that leads us to identify Jennifer's murderer.
'Extra patrols continue in the area while my officers remain at the crime scene.
'I would urge anyone who has any information, or who may be worried, to speak to them.'
Anyone with information can call police on 101 or message @MetCC on X, giving the reference 6470/13JUN.
To remain anonymous contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or online.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Western Telegraph
3 hours ago
- Western Telegraph
Predator who drugged and raped 10 women facing ‘very long' jail term
Zhenhao Zou, 28, was convicted of the harrowing attacks involving two women who have been identified and another eight who have yet to be traced. He kept a trophy box of women's belongings and filmed nine of the attacks, with jurors in the case forced to watch the disturbing footage. The Metropolitan Police publicly appealed for potential victims to contact them after Zhenhao Zou was convicted in March (Metropolitan Police/PA) At the end of his trial in March, Metropolitan Police detectives said they fear he could have targeted more than 50 more potential victims. More than 20 women contacted the force following publicity in the media around Zou's trial to say they think they may have been attacked by him. When he was convicted, Judge Rosina Cottage said he is a 'dangerous and predatory sexual offender' and warned him he faces a 'very long' jail term when he is sentenced on Thursday. After a month-long trial, Zou, who was most recently living in Elephant and Castle, south-east London, was found guilty of raping three women in London and another seven in China between September 2019 and May 2023. He was convicted of 11 counts of rape, with two of the offences relating to one victim. Zou was also convicted of three counts of voyeurism, 10 of possession of an extreme pornographic image, one of false imprisonment and three of possession of a controlled drug with intent to commit a sexual offence, namely butanediol. Prosecutors said Zou appears to be 'a smart and charming young man' but is in fact 'a persistent sexual predator, a voyeur and a rapist'. He comes from a wealthy family, and had enough money to afford a Rolex, a wardrobe full of designer clothes, and cosmetic procedures including a hair transplant and facial surgery, while paying thousands a month in rent living in London as an international engineering student. A screengrab from body worn camera of the arrest of Zhenhao Zou (Metropolitan Police/PA) Police found hundreds of hours of disturbing videos and photos that he kept, around half of which are thought to have been filmed in the UK and half in China. Zou, who also used the name Pakho online, befriended fellow Chinese students on WeChat and dating apps, before inviting them for drinks and drugging them at his flats in London or an unknown location in China. The student first moved to Belfast in 2017 to study mechanical engineering at Queen's University before heading to London in 2019 to do a master's degree and then a PhD at UCL. Investigators first charged Zou in January 2024, but waited for more than a year until he had been convicted before making public appeals for further victims to come forward. His crimes began to be uncovered in November 2023, when a woman went to police to allege that she had been attacked by Zou. There was not enough evidence to bring a criminal charge over her claim, but when Zou's phone was seized officers found disturbing videos of him raping unconscious women, and pipettes and sedating drugs in his flat. One of the two victims who has been identified by police told the jury she was raped after Zou pushed her to drink excessive amounts of alcohol and would not let her leave his flat in Elephant and Castle in May 2023. A picture used by Zou online – he would befriend women before luring them back to his flat, drugging and raping them (Metropolitan Police/PA) The second, who is now living in China, said she was also raped by Zou, in his student flat near Russell Square in October 2021, when she was unconscious. The case has chilling parallels with Reynhard Sinaga, 41, who was jailed for life in January 2020 at Manchester Crown Court after being found guilty of 159 counts of sexual offences against 48 different men. He also befriended his victims and invited them back to his flat, before drugging and sexually assaulting them. There was also the case of serial killer Stephen Port, who received a whole life term after raping and murdering four men with overdoses of the sedative drug GHB, and drugging and sexually assaulting seven others who survived. UK detectives have said the Chinese authorities were 'responsive and helpful' over the investigation into Zou, although no properties where he lived in China have been searched even though many of his crimes took place on Chinese soil. After Zou's trial they began discussions with China about whether social media appeals to potential victims could be made on WeChat and Little Red Book, which are more commonly used in the country. Zou was convicted of rapes that he committed in China in a UK court because foreign nationals living in Britain can be convicted of crimes committed abroad if the act is an offence in both countries.


Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Pals say award-winning film director, 69, who 'was killed for her Rolex' had 'lost everything after moving from Beverly Hills': Manhunt for murderer continues
An award-winning film director who was stabbed to death in her home in London had moved to the capital after 'losing everything' from her life as a 'movie star'. Jennifer Abbott, 69, was stabbed to death in her council flat in Camden on Friday just days after she was last seen by neighbours walking her pet Corgi Prince. She was discovered wrapped in a blanket with tape over her mouth by her niece and neighbours, who broke into her home after growing concerned for her welfare, pals said. The Metropolitan Police are now hunting for her killer, who is believed to have made off with her diamond-encrusted Rolex after it went missing from her address. Locals told MailOnline Ms Abbott, known professionally as Sarah Steinberg, had lived at the address for over 10 years, having moved over from the US where she would often rub shoulders with A-list celebrities. Pictures from her social media profiles show her cosying up to Hollywood stars including Paris Hilton, Kate Hudson and Dan Ackroyd, while she also won an award for writing and directing a documentary about war. Her next door neighbour Laura, 34, said: 'She was a movie star. She was in a couple of movies. She used to live in Beverly Hills. 'She said she came over here and lost everything. Everything was stolen off of her.' 'I live right next door to her. She was a friend of mine. I used to walk her dog when she was sick,' the hairdresser added. 'I wasn't here - I was at my boyfriend's when it happened. 'I am literally gobsmacked. Who would do that to someone? 'If I was there I maybe could have done something.' Forensics officers were seen carrying several bags of miscellaneous items from the victim's flat on Wednesday evening. Police officers were also spotted clearing an area next to the block of flats of branches and leaves. Neighbour Billie Currie, 63, said he had heard a dog barking for most of the night days before Ms Abbott's body was found. Mr Currie told MailOnline: 'She was always walking the dog and was really nice. She was quite reserved but very friendly.' Another neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said she heard screaming from Ms Abbott's niece while she was trying to gain entry to her flat. Her son then grabbed a metal pole to bash down the door before making the grim discovery. Ms Abbott's Corgi Prince was found locked in the bathroom after miraculously surviving on its own for up to three days. The neighbour added: 'I heard the girls banging on the door and heard her shouting "help, help". 'She was a vibrant, spritely, and intelligent person. We would talk about a lot of things - politics, current affairs, her likes and dislikes, we knew what each other liked.' She told about Ms Abbott's colourful career where she has been a doctor, and was even involved in the film industry where she directed the movie War of the Gods. 'She got interviewed in LA about this movie,' she said. 'She was known as Jenny or Janet and was quite mysterious.' Forensics officers were seen carrying several bags of miscellaneous items from the victim's flat on Wednesday evening. But heartbreakingly, the neighbour revealed Ms Abbott is thought have recently been diagnosed with stomach cancer. Another neighbour said the area had recently had issues with homeless people breaking down their doors. He said: 'I think she had an operation and it went wrong or something and they had taken out a part of her intestines. 'There used to be a lot of homeless, breaking in doors, sleeping inside, going to the toilet. 'Before it was all the time. Community police would come all the time. But not much anymore.' Another friend said Ms Abbott had recently spoken and broken down in tears saying she was too scared to go to sleep. She added: 'I remember her saying to me that once she had tried coming out of the flat and couldn't get out because of all the druggies out there. 'It was a dark day when that happened. It's not about me, I feel for her and her son and her niece who had to see her like that. 'I can't believe I'm not going to see her again. 'We will miss her running around. I mean she was indoors a lot but she made herself known. She'd talk to everyone. 'Her niece said she had a lot of jewellery so the police need to check if anything else is missing. 'To put the dog in the bathroom and then shut her up by putting the tape across her mouth and then they ransacked her house. 'I'm not surprised she had a Rolex. She was a woman of taste who liked to have a lot of nice things.' The Met police are urging any witnesses to come forward with information that could help identify the attacker and the events leading up to her death. Chief Superintendent Jason Stewart, who leads policing in Camden, said: 'We are working closely with our colleagues in the homicide team to establish exactly what happened and it's incredibly important that we hear from anyone who may have knowledge about how this awful death occurred. 'Were you out in Camden on Friday? Perhaps you had been coming home from work, or at an event nearby? Did you see or hear anything around Mornington Place that struck you as being unusual? 'Someone must have seen or heard something and no piece of information is too small. It could be the crucial clue that leads us to identify Jennifer's murderer. 'Extra patrols continue in the area while my officers remain at the crime scene. I would urge anyone who has any information, or who may be worried, to speak to them.'


Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Future of Notting Hill Carnival 'up in the air', leaked letter reveals
Notting Hill Carnival could be cancelled without 'urgent funding' from the government, its organisers have reportedly warned in a leaked letter. It comes after a review of the festival, which takes place on August Bank Holiday weekend, identified 'critical public safety concerns'. Last year, more than 300 people were arrested and eight people were stabbed during the event, which attracts up to two million visitors. Ian Comfort, the Carnival's chair, has now said in a letter seen by the BBC that additional funding is needed to address the issues and make sure it safe to run. He is understood to have written to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy to request the money, which is 'essential to safeguarding the future and public safety of this iconic event'. Mr Comfort said in the letter: 'The April 2025 London Assembly report highlights the increasing strain placed on the Metropolitan Police during large-scale public events. 'Limited resourcing has restricted the police service's ability to respond to growing operational pressure.' He called for more investment into stewarding and crowd management, which he said was essential for the police to focus on preventing crime. Notting Hill Carnival has been indirectly supported by the government through public bodies such as Arts Council England. But it is understood if the request for funding is granted, it will be the first time direct government financial support is provided for the event. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport said it would 'respond to the letter in due course'. Last year, 7,000 police officers were on duty at Notting Hill Carnival, with a total of around 14,000 officer shifts across the whole event. However, two people tragically died from injuries they sustained in separate attacks at the festival. Cher Maximen, 32, was brutally stabbed in front of her three-year-old daughter after she got caught in the middle of a fight between two groups of men. She was rushed to hospital but died six days later - sparking concerns about the safety at the event. Meanwhile Mussie Imnetu - a Michelin star chef - died from a severe head injury he sustained during an assault at the carnival. He was repeatedly punched and kicked by charity worker Omar Wilson, 31, a court previously heard. After the attack, Wilson went out clubbing with his friends at the Ministry of Sound and confessed to one of them in a text message, writing: 'There's a monster in me.. And it's just like sometimes it comes out. And I think I've messed up now. And everything's finished. 'I've f****d up. I crossed the line and went overboard. I don't think I can come back from this mistake. I'm going to jail in the morning.' He was jailed for at least 18 years in February for the attack. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan commented: 'It is heartbreaking that Cher Maximen and Mussie Imnetu have died after being attacked in separate incidents over the bank holiday weekend. 'My thoughts are with their families and friends at this truly terrible time. 'This violence is shocking, completely unacceptable and a betrayal of the values that (Notting Hill) Carnival was founded to celebrate.' The organisers of Notting Hill Carnival said in a statement: 'Notting Hill Carnival is shocked by these tragic deaths and our thoughts are with the victims' families and the local community as a whole, which like so many others, has suffered all too often from the blight of violent crime. 'We stand together against all violence and condemn these acts, which are against all carnival values and the millions of people who come in celebration of them.' MailOnline has contacted Notting Hill Carnival for comment on the letter about funding concerns.