A 67-year-old woman has been convicted of killing her five-year-old stepdaughter in a case dating back to 1978, according to police and court records.

Janice Nix, from south London, was found guilty of causing the death of Andrea Bernard through severe burns. The incident occurred when the child was forced to take a bath that resulted in scalding injuries covering half her body.

The conviction comes nearly five decades after Andrea's death in 1978. Police investigators said they believed Nix thought she would never face consequences for the child's death after so many years had passed.

Nix, who previously worked as a probation officer, now faces sentencing and a potential return to prison. Court records indicate she had also been involved in drug-related offenses in the past.

The case represents one of the older prosecutions for child homicide in recent British legal history, demonstrating that serious crimes can still be pursued decades after they occur when sufficient evidence becomes available.