A woman has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for the manslaughter of her five-year-old stepdaughter, Andrea Bernard, who died almost 50 years ago after being scalded in a bath. Janice Nix, 67, formerly known as Janice Thomas, was found guilty of the charge following a trial at Isleworth Crown Court. The court heard that Nix punished Andrea by forcing her into extremely hot water in Thornton Heath, south London, on 6th June 1978.
Andrea suffered severe burns to 50% of her body and died in hospital on 13th July 1978, five weeks after the incident. For decades, Andrea's death had been treated as an accident. However, the case was reopened in 2022 when Andrea's older brother, Desmond Bernard, now 56, came forward to police with his account of the events. Judge Justice Lavender, in sentencing Nix, stated, "I'm sure that you ran the bath, you knew how hot it was... You heard her screams." The judge added that the risk ought to have been "obvious" to her.
Desmond Bernard delivered a powerful victim impact statement in court, directly addressing Nix and saying, "Your actions robbed me of my sister, and my sister of her life." He recounted hearing Nix shouting at Andrea to 'get in the bath' and Andrea's cries that 'the bath is too hot mummy,' followed by screams. Bernard described finding Andrea limp and wrapped in a towel after entering the bathroom. He also testified that Nix had asked him to lie about the incident, claiming it was an accident and that they were in the garden when it happened.
Prosecutors suggested during the trial that Nix must have forcibly held Andrea underwater, citing expert testimony that a child exposed to such hot water would instinctively try to stand up rather than remain seated. Nix had initially given a false account of events to the coroner in 1978, claiming Andrea took a bath alone and later complained of itchy legs before fainting. She admitted during her trial to giving a false statement due to being in a panic over failing to supervise Andrea.
In addition to the manslaughter conviction, Nix, of Clapham, was also found guilty of cruelty to Desmond Bernard between October 1975 and June 1978, when he was aged between seven and nine. Nix will serve two-thirds of her 12-year sentence before being eligible for release on licence. Andrea's mother, Angela Bernard, also had a statement read in court, describing her daughter as the "light of my life" and a sweet, loving, happy child.
This case highlights the enduring impact of child abuse and the importance of individuals coming forward, even decades later, to seek justice. The re-examination of cold cases, particularly those involving vulnerable victims, underscores the commitment to accountability within the justice system.