Arabic version: زوجة الأب تُحكم بالسجن بسبب وفاة ابنتها بالتبني بسبب الحروق عام 1978

Janice Nix, 67, has been jailed for 12 years for the manslaughter of her five-year-old stepdaughter, Andrea Bernard, who died after being scalded in a bath in 1978. According to BBC News, the incident took place in Thornton Heath, south London, where Nix punished Andrea by forcing her into hot water.

Andrea suffered severe burns and died in hospital on July 13, 1978, five weeks later. Initially treated as an accident, the case was reopened when Andrea’s older brother, Desmond Bernard, reported it to the police in 2022. Nix was found guilty of Andrea’s manslaughter and cruelty towards Desmond, who was a child at the time.

During sentencing at Isleworth Crown Court, Judge Justice Lavender noted that Nix was aware of the dangers when she ran the bath and heard her stepdaughter’s screams. Desmond Bernard, now 56, delivered a poignant victim impact statement, expressing how Nix’s actions robbed him of his sister and devastated their family.

Desmond recounted the events leading up to Andrea’s death, revealing that Nix was “furious” with Andrea for disobeying her orders. He recalled hearing Nix order Andrea into the bath and her protests about the water being too hot. After the incident, he witnessed Nix attempting to manipulate the narrative by asking him to lie about the circumstances surrounding Andrea’s death.

Nix will serve two-thirds of her sentence before being eligible for release on licence. The court’s decision highlights the long-awaited justice for Andrea Bernard and the impact of her tragic death on her family.