Woman Charged in 1978 Death of Five-Year-Old Girl in South London

66-year-old woman faces manslaughter and child cruelty charges related to decades-old case

A 66-year-old woman has been charged with manslaughter in connection with the death of five-year-old Andrea Bernard in 1978. The Metropolitan Police reported that the woman, known as Mamma J, was charged following an investigation into the incident that occurred in Thornton Heath, south London.

Andrea Bernard died from her injuries in July 1978 after being hospitalized.

The accused is also facing a charge of child cruelty related to another eight-year-old child during the same period.

The case was reopened in September 2022, leading to the recent charges.

The woman is scheduled to appear at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court.