Woman in court charged with killing girl, 5, by ‘forcing her into scalding bath’

A woman has appeared in court accused of killing a five-year-old child by forcing her into a scalding hot bath.

Janice Nix, 66, is charged with manslaughter over the death of Andrea Bernard, who was taken to hospital after she suffered burns in Thornton Heath, south London, on June 6, 1978.

Andrea was treated at a hospital in Croydon before being transferred to a specialist burns unit in East Grinstead, West Sussex, but died from her injuries on July 13 that year.

Nix, of Clapham, southwest London, wept as she appeared in the dock at Uxbridge Magistrates Court this morning.

She is also accused of cruelty to Andrea’s brother Desmond Bernard between October 1, 1975, and June 6, 1978, when he was eight.

Wearing a navy blue hoodie, Nix – who was aged between 16 and 19 at the time of the alleged incidents – spoke only to confirm her name, age and address during the short hearing.

The Metropolitan Police said the force’s cold case team launched an investigation into Andrea’s death in September 2022.

The court heard the incident was reported to police at that time by Mr Bernard, who is now an adult.

Nix was freed on bail with conditions including to surrender her passports and not to travel to any international travel hubs.

She is set to appear at Isleworth Crown Court on March 19.

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