Woman charged in connection with 1978 death of child

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

Janice Nix, 66 (26.08.58), of Rodenhurst Road, SW4, was arrested and charged with manslaughter on Tuesday, 18 February, 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 on Wednesday, 19 February.

It is reported Andrea was assaulted at an address in Ashley Road, Thornton Heath on 6 June 1978 and was hospitalised.

She 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 13 July 1978.

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