A woman has been jailed almost five decades after the death of her five-year-old stepdaughter, in what police have described as one of London's oldest successfully prosecuted homicide cases. Janice Nix, 67, was sentenced to 12 years in prison after being convicted of the manslaughter of Andrea Bernard, who suffered catastrophic burns in June 1978 after being forced into a scalding hot bath at her family's home in Thornton Heath, south London. Andrea died nearly six weeks later from complications caused by her injuries.

For decades, Andrea's death was treated as a tragic accident. However, the case was reopened in 2022 after her older brother, Desmond Bernard, approached police and revealed what he said had really happened that day.

According to investigators, Desmond, who was just eight years old at the time, had been too frightened to tell the truth because he had allegedly been subjected to years of abuse by Nix. He later told detectives that she had persuaded him to say the incident was an accident and promised she would stop hitting him if he kept quiet.

During the trial, jurors heard that Andrea had been punished after leaving the house despite being told to stay home from school. Desmond recalled hearing his sister screaming "it's hot, it's hot" from the bathroom as Nix ordered her into the bath. The screaming suddenly stopped before he was called into the room and found Andrea unresponsive.

Detectives from the Metropolitan Police's Cold Case Homicide Team launched a fresh investigation, combing through decades-old records, hospital documents and archived evidence. Although many records had been lost over time and numerous witnesses had since died, investigators uncovered crucial material, including a coroner's report that helped rebuild the case.

Police also identified significant inconsistencies between statements Nix gave in 1978 and those she provided when questioned during the modern investigation. Prosecutors argued these discrepancies undermined her account of events.

Expert witnesses told the court that a child would not willingly remain submerged in water hot enough to cause Andrea's severe burns. The prosecution argued that force must have been used to inflict the injuries.

Following the verdict, Detective Inspector Louise Caveen paid tribute to Desmond for coming forward.

"In particular, I want to pay tribute to Desmond, who bravely made the decision to come forward and speak to us, as well as giving evidence at trial," she said.

"It is thanks to his courage that Nix has now been found guilty and will finally be held responsible for her actions."

She added: "I hope this case demonstrates that the Met will always review any new evidence that is brought to us, no matter the length of time that has passed."

Nix was also convicted of assaulting and ill-treating Desmond between 1975 and 1978. Throughout the investigation and trial, she denied abusing either child and maintained that Andrea's injuries were the result of an accident.

Nearly 48 years after Andrea's death, the conviction has finally brought a measure of justice to a case that remained hidden for generations, thanks largely to the testimony of a brother who found the courage to speak out after decades of silence.