By Burnett Munthali
A 67-year-old woman, Janice Nix, is on trial for the manslaughter of her five-year-old stepdaughter, Andrea Bernard, who died in 1978 after being subjected to a scalding hot bath.
The prosecution alleges that Nix used the bath as a form of punishment, and that she told Andrea’s brother, Desmond, to say it was an accident.
Desmond, now an adult, recently came forward with new information, revealing that he had been too afraid to speak out earlier.
He claims that Nix had a history of violent behavior towards him and his sister, including forcing them to have cold baths and eating cat food.
Nix denies the allegations, claiming that Andrea’s death was a tragic accident caused by a malfunctioning boiler.
However, prosecutors argue that Nix’s account is inconsistent with the evidence, and that she showed no signs of remorse at the time.
The trial continues at Isleworth Crown Court, with Nix facing charges of manslaughter and child cruelty.
