Trial for woman – nearly five decades on from five-year-old’s death

Police from the Met’s Cold Case Homicide Team have charged a woman in relation with the death of a five-year-old girl in 1978.

Janice Nix, 66, of Rodenhurst Road, Clapham, was arrested and charged with manslaughter today, following the death of Andrea Bernard.

Andrea and Nix were known to each other

Nix was also charged with child cruelty in relation to offences towards another child, who was aged eight at the time.

She is due to appear before Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court tomorrow.

Andrea was initially treated at hospital in Croydon before being transferred to a specialist burns unit in East Grinstead.

Tragically, as a result of the injuries Andrea sustained, she died on July 13 that year.

The offences were reported in September 2022 and an investigation was launched.

Picture: The Met