Alleged killer of girl, 5, breaks down in court

Janice Nix, 67, faces a manslaughter charge over the death of five-year-old Andrea Bernard after Andrea was burned in a hot bath in Thornton Heath on 6 June 1978. Andrea’s death was initially treated as an accident until her older brother reported concerns to police in 2022. Nix denies all charges. During an inquest in 1978, she initially claimed Andrea bathed herself and later complained of itchy legs before fainting. In court, Nix said she gave a false account to the coroner because she was in panic after failing to supervise Andrea. She testified she heard screaming, ran to the bathroom within seconds, saw Andrea struggling, and pulled her out, describing red legs and bubbles without realizing the water was scalding hot.

"Janice Nix, 67, is charged with the manslaughter of Andrea Bernard by punishing her with a hot bath in Thornton Heath, south London, on 6 June 1978. Andrea's death was treated as an accident until her older brother Desmond Bernard went to police in 2022, Isleworth Crown Court previously heard. Nix denies all charges against her."

"Giving evidence on Monday, Nix became emotional as she admitted giving a false account of the events to the coroner because she was "in a panic" over having failed to supervise Andrea while she took a bath. "I realised I had done something I shouldn't have done; I should have been with Andrea," she told jurors. "I was young and I was clearly not thinking.""

"Nix told jurors she was busy gardening on the afternoon of 6 June 1978 when she "heard screaming from downstairs" and ran to the bathroom. "I was in the bathroom within seconds," Nix said. "I just panicked, I saw her (Andrea) struggling. "She was naked and I pulled her out. "I just grabbed her, I can't remember how I grabbed her, but I grabbed her and pulled her to me.""

"The defendant further told the court she did not at the time realise the bathwater was scalding hot, adding: "All I know is that she was in distress, her legs were red, they had bubbles on them I didn't know how hot the water was.""

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