A nursery teacher has been accused of murdering her partner’s four year old daughter.
Amber Lee Hughes, suspecting that Elie Challita was being unfaithful, reportedly sent him a message threatening to “burn his heart”. When Mr Challita left for a job interview, his daughter Nada-Jane Challita was left in the care of Hughes.
The court heard that Hughes, a nursery nurse, drowned the helpless child.
The court was told that Hughes forced Nada-Jane’s head underwater in the bathtub by sitting on her as she struggled to escape. This week, she confessed to the murder charge but refutes a separate count of raping Nada-Jane, which prosecutors claim occurred in the days leading up to the child’s murder.
Hughes informed Johannesburg High Court in South Africa: “I persist with the denial that I have raped the deceased.”, reports The Mirror.
On January 23, 2023, when Hughes was alone with Nada-Jane, the court heard she sent her partner a chilling message stating: “You broke my heart. I’m going to burn yours. How could you do that to me?” The nursery teacher then filled the bathtub with cold water and drowned Nada-Jane.
The assault took place approximately two years into the couple’s relationship, during which time Hughes had moved into the family home in Johannesburg. However, the court was informed that this period was characterised by frequent disputes.
Phindi Mjonondwane, the prosecutor, alleged that these conflicts escalated into murder as Hughes grew increasingly jealous and irate.
Hughes denied the murder but has since confessed to killing the child, whilst still refuting the rape accusation. Hughes told the court: “I admit that I suffered from borderline personality disorder at the time of the incident, but was aware of what I was doing on that day.
“The event was triggered by the argument I had with the deceased’s father concerning his infidelity, and the final trigger was when he told me that I should stop bombarding him. I admit that after the deceased became unresponsive, I left her in the bathtub with the cold water tap still running.”
The young defendant also shared with the court her suicide attempt. Following the hearing, Nada-Jane’s father expressed relief that the truth was beginning to surface.
He said: “Now I know, legally, she killed my child. I’m now waiting to find out how long she tortured her before she killed her.”
The case has been postponed until Thursday August 7, when the court will hear arguments regarding the rape charge.