Fresh inquest ordered into death of scalded London girl, 1978

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 21 Oct, 14:08 · Archive

A fresh inquest has been ordered into the death of five-year-old Andrea Bernard from Thornton Heath, South London, who was fatally scalded in a dangerously hot bath in June 1978. She sustained burns over half her body and died several weeks later from complications arising from her injuries. A coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death that year, but a new investigation was launched in 2022 after her older brother, Desmond Bernard, reported the incident to police.

Desmond, who was eight years old at the time, had initially backed up the account given by Janice Nix, then aged 19, Andrea's effective stepmother. Nix claimed Andrea had taken the bath alone and later fainted after complaining of itchy legs. However, Desmond later told police a different account, which detectives described as 'chilling'. The Daily Mail reports that Desmond alleged Nix was regularly violent to the children, beating them, hitting them with belts, and forcing Andrea into the hot bath.

In June 2026, Nix, 68, of Clapham, was convicted of Andrea's manslaughter at Isleworth Crown Court and jailed for 12 years. Following this conviction, an application was made to quash the original inquest verdict. The High Court has now ordered a fresh inquest to take place, with Lord Justice Singh stating it is in the 'interests of justice' for the true circumstances of Andrea's death to be investigated and recorded.

How it is being reported

• Fresh inquest to be held into death of five-year-old girl who was fatally scalded by hot bath nearly 50 years agoJanice Nix was jailed for 12 years for the manslaughter of her stepdaughter, Andrea Bernard, who suffered burns over her body from a bath she was forced into at her family home.Daily Mail · 21 Oct, 13:55
• Fresh inquest ordered for London girl, 5, fatally scalded in bath nearly 50 years agoAndrea Bernard sustained burns over half her body and died several weeks after the incident in June 1978Evening Standard · 21 Oct, 09:47

In this story: Andrea Bernard · Janice Nix · Desmond Bernard · Thornton Heath · Clapham · Isleworth Crown Court

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