Transcription
Thanks, Jane. [music] Tonight on BBC London, a woman who killed her 5-year-old stepdaughter [music] in a scolding bath in 1978 is finally jailed. Her [music] conviction comes after the victim's brother came forward decades later.
>> I was burnt with a cigarette and bitten. We were just living, I would say, fear and it was constant.
>> Also on the program, driverless cars are already on the streets of London. We sent our transport correspondent out for a test drive.
>> You are like eating a bowl of cornflakes and he's got his hands off the wheel. To you, to you it's every day, isn't it? But I mean that is
>> If you love the London Marathon and watching tens of thousands of runners snake past the Cuty Sark every year, you're in luck cuz next year we're going to have two London Marathons. I'll have the details.
>> And there's no business like show business. We see a variety of West End shows for free in London this weekend as West End Live is held here in the capital. Good evening and welcome. I'm [music] Alice Banduki.
Our top story this Friday evening, the stepmother jailed for 12 years for killing a 5-year-old girl by scolding her in a hot bath as a punishment nearly half a century ago. 67year-old Janice Nicks was sentenced today at Eiselworth Crown Court for the manslaughter of Andrea Bernard in Thornton Heath in 1978. Andrea's death had initially been treated as an accident until her older brother Desmond went to police four years ago with a new account of what had happened. Janice Nicks, a retired probation officer, was also sentenced for cruelty against him. We'll be hearing from Desmond in his first broadcast interview shortly. But first, our reporter Luxmi Gopal was in Isleworth Crown Court and sent us this.
>> In court today, Janice Nicks shook and sobbed loudly as the judge passed sentence. Mr. Justice Lavender said, "You took Andrea's life and you caused grief and misery to her family." Andrea's brother, Desmond, now aged 56, read a statement out in court in which he paid tribute to his little sister. And at one point he also looked directly at Nyx and said, "Your actions robbed me of my sister." Nyx shook her head and seemed to mouth some words as he addressed her. The judge said only a custodial sentence would be justified as her offenses were so serious.
>> You put Andrea in or made her get in the scolding hot bath as a punishment. She sustained full thickness burns over 50% of her body surface. The burns caused her death after over 5 weeks of suffering in hospital.
>> The judge sentenced Janice Nicks to 12 years in prison for the manslaughter of Andrea and for child cruelty towards Desmond.
>> Lux me goal with that report. Well, this extraordinary case only came to light thanks to the courage of Andrea's brother Desmond. And for the first time, he's given an interview about what happened all those years ago. He spoke to our home affairs correspondent, Sonia Jessup. And just to warn you, you may find some of the details in his account extremely distressing.
>> Andrea was very talkative. She was very outgoing. She was funny. Yeah. She was just always, you know, where's my little sis? 5-year-old Andrea Bernard died in 1978. She suffered serious burns in a bath at her home in Thornton Heath. For years, it was thought to be a tragic accident. But in 2022, her brother Desmond walked into a police station and told them he knew the truth. He was 8 years old at the time, and he and his sister were being regularly beaten by their stepmother, Janice Nicks.
>> It was almost breaking our spirit. We were beaten with belts. I was burnt with a cigarette and bitten. We were just living, I would say, fear and it was constant.
>> On the day Andrea suffered her fatal injuries, Desmond says she'd been in trouble with Nyx. From his bedroom, he heard the bath running.
>> What I heard Andrea say was, "The bath was too hot, Mommy." She said it twice. She said, "The bath was too hot, Mommy." and and and Janice was just telling her to get in the bath. I heard Andrea scream and it was nothing I've not heard anything screaming like that before or after. And Janice said to me um to say she said I say it was an accident if anyone asked say we were in the garden and Andrea fell in the bath and she promised that she wouldn't hit me anymore or beat me anymore. And um that's what I did
>> for almost half a century. He carried that secret until counseling and conversations with his supportive family led him to decide it was time to talk to police.
>> There was a lot of um I guess maybe self-hatred. Um because I kept this I kept this secret and guilt. I got to the realization that this wasn't my um this was not my burden to carry. I was just a child and I was feeling guilt that I shouldn't feel.
>> After so many years, police faced a huge challenge in finding evidence to support Desmond's account, but a coroner's report from the time had survived and that showed major discrepancies in Nyx's story.
>> You're under arrest. Okay. For the manslaughter of Andrea Bernard on the 13th of July 1978.
>> Nicks was arrested at the airport and last month found guilty of Andrea's manslaughter and of cruelty towards Desmond.
>> That brings me a sense of relief and I think Andrea will be smiling now cuz you know she will be Yeah, she'll be happy. She'll be happy. Sorry.
>> If you could talk to yourself, if you could see yourself as an 8-year-old now, what would you say to yourself?
>> You finally did it. You finally did it.
>> It's okay now. That's what I would say. Desmond Bernard there. Well, if you or anyone you know have been affected by the issues raised in that report, you can find ways to get support by clicking on to BBC Action Line.
The mayor says he has concerns about autonomous mini cabs or driverless cars being launched in London and that he's talking to the government to get the regulations right. Uber and Wave say they hope to launch the vehicles within months, although there will still be a driver in the car when there are passengers. We sent our transport correspondent Tom Edwards for a test drive in one.
>> Well, this will be an exciting ride.
>> We're in Islington to see how this company, Wave, is using AI to drive cars. Some other companies are mapping streets so autonomous vehicles can drive in them. This one uses AI. apart from the safety driver Allan who is human and can intervene if needed.
>> So I think the way that I would explain it to maybe my mom is um the car drives itself and Allan has engaged the autonomous system and we're now in driverless. So you'll see his hands are below the steering wheel, not on them.
>> Okay. So what's it going to do here? So will it squeeze by?
>> Oh,
>> let's take a look. sees that we have a clear lane following some traffic
>> cuz that was a typical London maneuver. What do you say to the skeptics? You know, people who aren't convinced are terrified to get in a vehicle like this.
>> How do you persuade your mom?
>> I would say, "Mom, I understand that you have some fears with getting in the car and having a, you know, AI system control the drive, but um you've got to try it." I often trust the AI driver more than I even trust myself.
>> But would Londoners, the way the world's going, I feel like it's going to happen eventually. I
>> think I'd have to know a few people that would use them first.
>> What about late at night? You know, after you've been to the pub.
>> Oh, yeah. Maybe a little bit.
>> I feel like on a night out, you wouldn't have really noticed.
>> Like, if I'd had a drink, then I'd go with just
>> just I'm used to
>> Yeah. [laughter] It's going to provide a service that ideally is uh safer uh for all uh individuals and vehicles on the road. Um reducing um and providing a safer sort of transportation mode.
>> That's definitely not the view of this taxi driver. [laughter]
>> I mean they are funny. We do watch them and laugh. They're not allowed in the bus lane because they're not a taxi. They're not wheelchair accessible. What if the somebody in the back had a heart attack? These robo cars are not something that the black cab's worried about. It's Uber drivers. It's mini cab drivers that that are going to be worried.
>> I put that to Uber who are in partnership with Wave. Some Uber drivers will see this and be absolutely terrified that they're going to lose their jobs. What do you say to them? How can you make them feel part of this? How can you convince them this isn't a threat?
>> Yeah. The beauty of the business is it continues to grow a lot and as the business grows there's lots of demand for both drivers for AVs and we really think that will all continue to come together. There can be certain routes for example that maybe AVs can't take or certain riders who want to take a driver and so we do think that kind of um that hybrid network we call it of riders, drivers and AVs all coming together is what the future looks like and really uh leaning into that inner cities overall. So, you haven't seen jobs, the number of Uber drivers dip in the other cities where you are autonomous.
>> No, we certainly haven't. If anything, we've actually seen the opposite where the demand continues to grow in those cities.
>> The mayor has concerns about what that will do to pollution and congestion. And any passenger service would still have to be signed off by Transport for London.
>> Oh, now this can it park?
>> We're working on features uh that'll take us in that direction. So
>> my my uh parallel parking is still in demand, man.
>> Alan, thank you.
>> No worries. You're welcome. I didn't do much. [laughter]
>> Mate, you didn't do anything.
>> Y
>> Tom Edwards, BBC London.
Okay, let's take a look at some of the day other news stories. A man says he feels vindicated after a court ruled the Metropolitan Police had unlawfully arrested [music] him for the attempted murder of his mother because of his race. As a 16-year-old, Daryl [music] Mccloon was handcuffed in 2021 and held for 23 hours after his mother had tried to take her own life. Traders at Brixton Market have launched a campaign to buy it back from private equity firms ahead of Monday's deadline for bids on the site. [music] More than 30 traders fear eviction. The current owners say they're seeking buyers who will [music] protect the market's character. And four pelican chicks have hatched at St. James's Park. [music] the first in 360 years. They're not yet visible to the public because of how vulnerable they are. So, Royal Parks is asking visitors to keep dogs on leads around [music] the lake.
Now, it's one of the most famous road races in the world. The London Marathon attracted 1.3 million people to enter the ballot to take part in the next one. Well, it's now been announced that next year we'll get two. They'll be in the last weekend of April, one on Saturday and the other on Sunday. And for over a million people who've applied to take part, it means they now have double the chance of getting a place. Assad sent this from one of the marathon's most famous landmarks.
>> Pictures of the Caty Sark and the tens of thousands of runners which go past here every year as part of the London Marathon are sent all over the world. And as the runners go past here, they know they've still got about 20 miles or so before they reach the finish line on the Mal. Well, next year there are going to be two London marathons. The first on Saturday the 24th of April, the second on Sunday the 25th of April. A 100,000 people will therefore take that exact route. The reason for the two days is because the London Marathon is so hugely popular, but it does bring with it some disruption. As you'd expect, the road closures are going to uh create problems for some people. Well, let's just take a look at the route itself and you can see how many road closures there are on the the route. It starts obviously in Grinwich, goes round southeast London over to Burmany across Tower Bridge, Canary Warf before it goes back into central London and finishes on the Mau tubes and trains will also be busy. That causes frustration uh for people. But that's the price of having the world's largest annual fundraising event taking place in your city. If you haven't applied for the marathon, well, unfortunately, it's too late. If you have, you'll find out in a few weeks whether you've got a place or not. Kate Gordon has more details.
It's one of the great sites of the sporting calendar. Tens of thousands of people, each with their own reason to run. And it's about to get even bigger. Next year, for one year only, the London Marathon is doing the double. Two days, one event, 100,000 people. It's a huge logistical challenge that's been years in the making.
>> So much good can come from this. I think in a world of negative stories, in a world of disharmony, what the London Marathon does is it truly shows that we are more similar than we are different. It brings people together. and the £150 million that could be raised for good causes is something that we believe is a positive thing.
>> It's the best race I've ever run. The crowds really get you around. Um yeah, I'm jealous of anyone who gets to do it next year.
>> My only concern is if the crowd will turn out um to be as good for both days because that's what makes London so special. Runners will be entered into a ballot for Saturday and Sunday, effectively doubling the chances of a place. The elite men will eat the masses on one day. the elite women on another. But you can't race on both days. The marathon was already one of the world's biggest fundraising events and this year raised 90 million for good causes. The double is expected to take that total to 150 million, a huge boost for charities like Mar Cury. I'm hoping that we can double what we usually raise. That will be absolutely amazing and would mean so much to people um across the UK where we provide end of life care and support. That money means that we will be able to provide an additional 100,000 hours of care. It will make a massive difference for Maric Cury and for many, many other charities across the UK as well. And will you be taking part in it today?
>> I hope so. I've put my name down and I'm in the ballot. So, who knows? Fingers crossed.
>> The London Marathon has always pushed the boundaries of human achievement and emotion. Next year will be the biggest celebration yet of why people run and who they run for.
>> Yeah. Everyone taking part in the London Marathon has got their own personal story for taking part and it's fascinating to hear about them nearer the time. Now, as for small businesses along the route, ones I've spoken to, ones I've heard about, broadly welcome a second marathon taking place because it generates so much extra money for London. We're expecting it might generate up to about 100 million pounds extra. As for the crowds, well, that's probably the one guarantee uh you can make. Great crowds, huge numbers, and a proper party atmosphere. We'll see how it goes, but I think a lot of people are looking forward to it.
That was Assad [music] there. Now for a look at the other local stories on BBC News. Here in the capital, former England goalkeeper Mary [music] Herps has joined London City Lionesses on a two-year deal after leaving Paris [music] Sanima. In Essex, food inspired by a master chef finalist will soon be served to patients cared for at St. Luke's [music] Hospice near Basdon. And in Surrey, have you seen this [music] eagle? The hunt is on for Killian, a Chileian blue eagle who flew away from a show in Lingfield last Sunday. [music] More on these stories and others in your area on the BBC News app.
Now, it's been feeling very warm in London, hasn't it, throughout the day. Perfect timing for what's being described as London's first natural water lido, which opened in Canary Warf today. The dedicated area within Eden Dock features an unheated sixlane Olympic size swimming pool. What's more, it's filled with filtered dock water. Banani Vaddy went along to find out more. A swim in the heart of the city. This floating pool opened at Eden Dock in Canary Wolf today, bringing outdoor swimming into one of the capital's busiest business areas.
>> Yeah, it's really nice. It's pretty cold, but it's nice.
>> Really cold. refreshing. I love it. I like switch my brain off and just swim. It's the only sport where I feel like I'm just like on my own.
>> The swim is absolutely fantastic. Um I'm used to swimming in the lakes at the Lake District. So when I knew this was opening, I thought, let's give it a try. It'll be lovely and refreshing on a nice summer's day. I've cycled here from Stone Newton all along the canal. So I've watched followed all through the different bits of London and then to get here and to be here in the sort of financial area it's just so it's sort of almost inongruous but there's something lovely about it. The pool is unheated and open all year round. Today it was around 16°. [laughter] It's certainly uh feeling fresh. What was a lovely distraction here is the sunshine reflecting off the skyscrapers and the office buildings surrounding uh this hall. It's certainly an unusual location for an outdoor swim. Outdoor swimming has surged in popularity in recent years with many people drawn to it not just for the exercise but also mental well-being. The biggest thing that it does for you is it gives you a stress control. So coming in here, you're putting your body through this extreme sensation and you're having to then control that reaction.
>> So this is London's first and only floating lido. Uh really unique, you know, the environment in which it is. You know, it was surrounded by skyscrapers using the uh natural dock water itself, which is springfed, disconnected from the temps, completely clean and safe to swim in. Yeah, it's I don't think there's any other lido like it.
>> As temperatures rise in the coming days, the water here should get warmer, too. perhaps encouraging more Londoners to take the plunge. Vavani Vadi, BBC London.
Now, if musicals are your thing, then you might be interested in this next item because it involves a medley of show tunes from some of London's biggest West End hits. It's happening in Trafalga Square this weekend and features performances from Lay Miz, High Society, Paddington, and Frank Sinatra the musical. We sent Toua Deay to rehearsals. If you love a show, there's only one place to be this weekend. Dfalga Square is becoming the ultimate theater for West End Live, a free 2-day musical theater festival on Saturday and Sunday.
>> The festival's been organized by Westminster City Council and official London Theater. People can look forward to performances from some of the longrunning shows like lay miz. We've got Matilda coming down. We've got things like Hamilton. They're all going to be here performing. And then we've got some of the newer shows coming in, things that people maybe many people won't have seen yet. We've got Sinatra performing.
>> Phoebe Panoritos plays Nancy Sinatra in the new musical, giving audiences a first taste tomorrow. How does it compare performing on a stage in Chafala Square compared to in a theater?
>> I mean, it's completely different. You've got thousands of people here. It's outside. It's in this really iconic place. Especially being someone from Australia. I'm like telling all my family at home, I'm performing in Trafala Square in London. It's It's really cool. It's like one of the most iconic places in the world. This is such a special day for theater in London. And yeah, I'm really excited to be part of it.
>> The festival takes place every year and is very popular, giving a boost to theater ticket sales.
>> It's a fantastic event. We'll see,000 people over the weekend. They'll come in, they'll experience some of the very best the West End has to offer. They might come for one show, but they'll see lots of different clips of different bits and then they'll end up booking tickets and coming back throughout the year. It's a real starter for the for the theater year in in Westminster.
>> For those not in Trafalargo Square, the show will also be screened live in Victorian Embankment Gardens and from [music] Lupia in Comet Garden.
>> It's going to be very hot this weekend, so anyone coming is being advised to be mindful of the weather. So, wear hats, apply sunscreen, and stay well hydrated. [music]
>> If the sound checks were anything to go by, musical theater fans are in for a showstoppping weekend in the heart of London. [music] Tuluado, BBC London.
Time to bring you some breaking news that we've had in the last half hour. Uh, a serious incident has taken place on the network, the rail network line between Luton and Bedford. British transport police say they're responding to reports of a collision involving two trains in the Bedford area. Passengers on halted nearby trains are understood to have been told to remain on board. Tame's Link has confirmed that all lines between these stations are currently blocked. Now, there is a live page uh on the story running on the BBC News website. So, you can go to the website and get the very latest on that. And we will, of course, bring you a further update on this breaking story in our late bulletin, which is at the unusually late time of 11 p.m. this evening.
Now, uh before we give you the weather, this weekend uh is the summer solstice, the longest day and shortest night of the year. It falls on Sunday the 21st of June and you can follow the sun across the country and in your local area on the BBC's Sunrise Stream and live page. And uh as I said, the sun has certainly been shining today. Let's get a check on the weather and whatever it has in store for us this weekend with Katarina.
>> Hello there. Good evening to you. We are expecting an intense heat wave which could last over the next week or so. Tuesday for example in London we could be seeing highs of 34. Wouldn't rule out a 35°. And it's been a hot spells of sunshine through the evening. Overnight cloud amounts will increase. We may get one or two spots of rain and temperatures falling away to around 16 17 degrees. It's going to be a humid muggy start to Saturday morning. So Saturday through the day, there will be more cloud around at times with the occasional bright or sunny spell and still the chance of a few showers. Top temperatures on Sunday lifting to around 26 27° is still a hot day, but just not as hot. The weekend, any early cloud will eventually clear, lots of sunshine through the course of the afternoon, mainly dry and top temperatures lifting to around 31°. Then Monday we are looking at similar temperatures in the 30s. Tuesday could be a very hot day for us and it continues hot through the rest of the week.
Okay, let's have a recap now of the day's main news headlines. [music] Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has called on the Prime Minister to set a ta timetable for his departure.
>> [music]
>> Saki Star Starma has said he will fight any potential leadership battle after Andy Bernham was returned as an MP [music] in the Makerfield bi-election. The three-year-old boy critically injured after ending up in [music] the reptile house at a zoo in Cambridge was attacked by a crocodile. A 30-year-old man arrested on suspicion [music] of attempted murder has been released on conditional bail. And a [music] woman who killed her 5-year-old step-daughter in a scolding bath in 1978 is finally jailed. Her conviction comes after the victim's [music] brother came forward decades later. And as we've been telling you, British Transport Police say it is responding to reports of two trains having collided in the Bedford area. East Midlands Rail says trains between London St. Pancress and Leicester are not expected to run for the rest of the evening.
There will be more throughout the evening, of course, on the BBC News website. That's about it from me, but Thomas McIll will be here with our [music] late bulletin, which is on a little bit later tonight at 11:00 p.m. And of course, you can keep up to date with all the very latest, including [music] that issue on the Rail Network, of course, on our website. But for now, from all of us here, whatever you're doing, [music] do have a lovely evening.