A woman from South London has been found guilty of scalding her five-year-old stepdaughter to death nearly 50 years ago. The conviction comes after a lengthy and complex investigation, which was sparked by the re-examination of evidence in 2020.
The incident occurred in 1974, but at the time, the original investigation appears to have been insufficient. Despite the passage of nearly five decades, the case was reopened after new evidence emerged, leading to a thorough re-examination of the circumstances surrounding the child's death.
The convicted woman, whose name has not been released to protect the identity of her other children, was found guilty of murder at the Old Bailey. She will face sentencing at a later date.
The case has highlighted the importance of re-examining historic crimes and ensuring that justice is served, even decades after the initial incident. It also raises questions about the effectiveness of the original investigation and whether further action could have been taken at the time.
The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has been praised for its efforts in reopening the case and bringing the perpetrator to justice. The force has stated that it will continue to review and re-examine historic crimes to ensure that justice is served.