Janice Nix, a 67-year-old retired probation officer, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for the death of her five-year-old stepdaughter, Andrea Bernard, who died after being forced into a scalding hot bath as a punishment in 1978. The case, which remained unsolved for nearly half a century, was reopened after Andrea's brother, Desmond Bernard, came forward with new evidence in 2022.
Details of the Crime
The court heard that on June 6, 1978, Nix, then known as Janice Thomas, was furious after Andrea ignored instructions to stay indoors and help clean. She shouted at the child in an extremely loud voice before beating her. Desmond Bernard, who was seven at the time, testified that he heard the bath running and his sister crying that the water was too hot. He recounted hearing Nix demand Andrea get in, followed by screams and splashing, then silence. When Desmond entered the bathroom, he saw Nix cradling Andrea, who was limp and wrapped in a towel, with skin falling off her body.
Andrea died six weeks later in hospital, having suffered burns to 50% of her body. A burns expert testified that a child exposed to such hot water would instinctively try to stand up, suggesting Nix forcibly held Andrea underwater. The court also heard that Nix initially claimed Andrea had taken a bath alone and fainted, but later admitted to lying to the coroner out of panic.
Sentencing and Impact
Judge Nicholas Lavender stated that Nix knew the water was dangerously hot and ignored Andrea's screams. He emphasized that the risk should have been obvious. Nix wept during the hearing, while loud sobs came from the public gallery. In a victim impact statement, Desmond Bernard described the abuse he and his sister endured, including beatings and being forced to eat cat food, which left him broken. He addressed Nix directly, saying she took away Andrea's future and changed his forever.
Angela Bernard, the mother of the children, described Andrea as sweet and loving, saying her death completely destroyed her. She expressed that Andrea deserved a life, not to lie in a cemetery.
Background of the Defendant
Nix, of Clapham, south London, had a history of drug offenses and had served two substantial prison terms before becoming a probation officer. She published a book titled Breaking Out in 2021, detailing her transformation from a major drug dealer to an award-winning probation officer. She worked for the Probation Service from 2014 to 2019 and won a diversity award in 2015. The court also sentenced her for cruelty against Desmond Bernard between 1975 and 1978. She will serve two-thirds of her sentence before being eligible for release.
