Stepmother Convicted of Manslaughter in 1978 Scalding Death of Five-Year-Old Girl
Stepmum killed girl, 5, with scalding bath punishment as she said 'it's too hot mummy'
Image: Dailystar Co Uk
Janice Nix, 67, has been found guilty of manslaughter for the 1978 death of five-year-old Andrea Bernard, who suffered severe burns from being placed in a scalding bath. The case was reopened after Andrea's brother provided new evidence, leading to Nix's conviction nearly five decades later.
- 01Janice Nix was convicted of manslaughter and child cruelty after Andrea Bernard died from burns covering 50% of her body.
- 02The case was initially treated as an accident until Andrea's brother, Desmond Bernard, reported new details to the police in 2022.
- 03Desmond described Nix's abusive behavior, including physical beatings and psychological manipulation, during the trial.
- 04Nix claimed she did not realize the bathwater was scalding and asked Desmond to lie about the incident.
- 05This case is noted as one of the oldest homicide prosecutions in London, with only limited evidence surviving from the original inquest.
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Janice Nix, a 67-year-old stepmother, has been convicted of manslaughter for the 1978 death of five-year-old Andrea Bernard, who suffered severe burns after being placed in a scalding bath. The conviction followed new evidence presented by Andrea's older brother, Desmond Bernard, who revealed that he initially described his sister's death as accidental to protect himself from Nix's abuse. Desmond testified that he heard Andrea pleading that the water was 'too hot' before she was forced into the bath, which resulted in burns covering 50% of her body. Nix, who denied the charges, claimed she was unaware of the water's temperature. The case, described as the oldest homicide prosecution by London's Crown Prosecution Service, faced significant challenges due to the time elapsed since the incident. Only a few handwritten notes from the original inquest remained, complicating the investigation. The case was reopened after Desmond's courageous decision to come forward, leading to Nix's conviction and a measure of justice for Andrea's family.
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The conviction of Janice Nix brings closure to Andrea Bernard's family and highlights the importance of addressing historical child abuse cases.
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