A woman has been charged over the death of a five-year-old child almost 50 years ago.
Janice Nix, 66, was arrested and charged with manslaughter on Tuesday in connection with the death of five-year-old Andrea Bernard in 1978.
Andrea was treated at a hospital in Croydon before being transferred to a specialist burns unit in East Grinstead, Sussex, but died from her injuries on 13 July that year.
Andrea and Nix were known to each other.
The Metropolitan Police launched an investigation into her death in September 2022 and Nix, of Rodenhurst Road in Clapham, London, was charged with manslaughter.
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.
The Metropolitan Police said in a statement: “Detectives from the Met’s Cold Case Homicide Team have charged a woman following the death of a five-year-old girl in 1978.”
They added: “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.”
