More details emerged in court yesterday when 66-year-old Janice Nix appeared charged with the manslaughter of a five-year-old girl in Thornton Heath in 1978.
Charged: Janice Nix appeared in court yesterday, 47 years after the death of Andrea Bernard
Andrea Bernard died in hospital a month after being admitted for injuries sustained in a scalding hot bath at her home in Ashley Road.
Nix appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court yesterday, where the court heard that on June 6 1978, young Andrea had been forced into a very hot bath which scalded 50% of her body.
It emerged in court that Nix is also accused of cruelty to Andrea’s brother, Desmond Bernard, between October 1975 and June 1978.
Desmond was aged between five and eight at the time. Nix was aged between 16 and 19 at the time of the alleged incidents. It was Desmond Bernard, now aged 55, who reported the bath incident, the Met Police has confirmed.
At yesterday’s hearing, Nix spoke only to confirm her name, age and address. She was freed on bail with conditions including to surrender her passports and not to travel to any international travel hubs.
She is due at Isleworth Crown Court on March 19.
- If you have a news story about life in or around Croydon, or want to publicise your residents’ association or business, or if you have a local event to promote, please email us with full details at inside.croydon@btinternet.com
As featured on Google News Showcase
- Our comments section on every report provides all readers with an immediate “right of reply” on all our content. Our comments policy can be read by clicking here
Inside Croydon is a member of the Independent Community News Network
