Janice Nix Convicted of Manslaughter Over 1978 Scalding Death of 5‑Year‑Old Stepdaughter

A London jury has convicted 67‑year‑old Janice Nix of manslaughter in the 1978 death of her five‑year‑old stepdaughter, Andrea Bernard, and found her guilty of cruelty toward Andrea's older brother, Desmond, the Metropolitan Police said.

Andrea BernardCredit: Met Police

Andrea suffered severe burns to roughly half her body after being scalded in a hot bath at the family's home in Thornton Heath, south London. She was admitted to hospital in June 1978 and died from sepsis in July 1978, nearly six weeks after sustaining the injuries. At the time, the death was recorded as accidental.

Janice NixCredit: Met Police

Case Reopened After Witness Came Forward

More than 44 years later, in September 2022, Desmond — who was eight when Andrea was injured — went to a police station and said Nix had caused the injuries and had told him to lie about what happened. He also alleged repeated physical abuse, including beatings and being forced to eat cat food.

Janice Nix being arrested at Heathrow Airport in LondonCredit: Metropolitan Police/PA Images via Getty

Cold Case Investigation

Detectives from the Metropolitan Police's cold case team reopened the inquiry. Investigators faced practical obstacles: many contemporaneous hospital records were not retained and some potential witnesses could not be traced. Prosecutors highlighted how modern homicide probes often rely on digital records and CCTV that are not available for decades‑old cases.

Janice Nix leaving court in March 2025Credit: Ben Whitley/PA Images via Getty

Police found a brief coroner's report from 1978 that included an account attributed to the stepmother. Detectives said that account contained “startling differences” from the version Nix later gave. Expert analysis also discounted some of Nix's claims — for example, that a broken boiler had caused overheated bathwater and that Andrea had been able to speak after sustaining massive burns.

Arrest, Trial and Testimony

Nix was arrested at a London airport in February 2025 after returning from Antigua and Barbuda. She was charged the same day with manslaughter in connection with Andrea’s death and with cruelty toward Desmond between October 1975 and June 1978. She remains in custody and will be sentenced at a later hearing.

At trial, Nix admitted giving a false account at the time of Andrea's death but said she panicked because she had been gardening and rushed inside when she heard screams. Desmond told the court that on 6 June 1978 he heard Andrea say the water was too hot, remembered Nix shouting "Get in the bath," and then hearing splashing and screaming. He said Nix had instructed him to say the injury was an accident, telling him she would stop beating him if he did. Desmond said he lied because he felt unprotected and wanted the abuse to stop.

"This case would not have proceeded without the courage of the witness who came forward after more than four decades," Detective Constable Fran Homer of the Metropolitan Police's cold case team said. "It was heartbreaking to hear the burden of guilt he carried and how he wanted to be the voice for Andrea she didn't have."

The Crown Prosecution Service noted the challenges of investigating historic homicides, particularly where documentary evidence is scarce and witnesses may no longer be available. The police credited Desmond’s testimony as pivotal in securing the conviction.

Support: If you suspect child abuse, contact the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1‑800‑4‑A‑Child (1‑800‑422‑4453) or visit www.childhelp.org. Calls are confidential and available 24/7.