A woman who caused the death of a five-year-old girl by placing her in a scalding hot bath nearly fifty years ago has been sentenced to 12 years in prison. The incident involving Andrea Bernard was initially considered an accident until new information was provided by her brother to the authorities in 2022.
Janice Nix, aged 67, was found guilty of manslaughter as disturbing details of the crime emerged during the trial. She was sent to Isleworth Crown Court where she received the 12-year sentence. Throughout the court proceedings, Nix, a retired probation officer, displayed emotions, crying during most of the hearing and sobbing loudly when the judge delivered the sentencing.
The tragic incident took place in 1978 at the family residence in Thornton Heath, south London, where Andrea succumbed to injuries sustained from being forced into the scalding bath despite her protests. The court heard that Nix, in a fit of anger, disregarded instructions given to the child and compelled her to bathe after she was supposed to stay indoors and help with cleaning chores.
Desmond Bernard, Andrea’s brother, recounted how he overheard his sister expressing distress about the hot water while Nix insisted she enter the bath. Subsequently, screams and splashing were heard, leading to the child’s tragic death on June 6, 1978. Bernard testified that Nix sounded fearful as she called out to Andrea to awaken after the ordeal. He described entering the bathroom to find Nix holding Andrea, who appeared lifeless and severely burned.
Bernard, now 56, shared with the jury his initial reluctance to speak out against Nix due to fear of further abuse. Andrea passed away almost six weeks after being hospitalized with severe burns covering half of her body.
During the trial, it was revealed that Nix, then known as Janice Thomas, was in a relationship with the children’s father, Desmond Bernard, and acted as their stepmother. She was apprehended at Heathrow Airport in 2025 upon her arrival from Antigua and faced charges of manslaughter and child cruelty, to which she had pleaded not guilty.
In a courtroom appearance, Nix was emotional as she was convicted of manslaughter and cruelty towards Desmond Bernard during his childhood years.
