During a court hearing, it was revealed that almost half a century ago, a woman allegedly caused the death of a five-year-old girl by immersing her in scalding hot water. Janice Nix, now 66 years old, stands accused of the manslaughter of Andrea Bernard at a residence located on Ashley Road in Thornton Heath, south London, on June 6, 1978. Sadly, Andrea passed away five weeks later on July 13, 1978, while receiving medical care in a specialized burns unit.
Appearing visibly emotional, Nix, a resident of Clapham, appeared before Uxbridge magistrates’ court on Wednesday to face charges of manslaughter. Additionally, she is also being charged with child cruelty involving an unnamed eight-year-old boy. Nix, attired in oversized black glasses and a navy blue Nike hoodie, confirmed her personal details including her name, date of birth, and current address during the proceedings.
Following the court appearance, Nix was granted bail under specific conditions, awaiting further legal proceedings which are scheduled for a plea and trial preparation hearing at Isleworth Crown Court on March 19. The prosecutor, Ravindar Chodha, highlighted that the young girl had suffered severe scalds covering 50% of her body. Nix was taken into custody on Tuesday before she was charged and subsequently released on conditional bail.
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