Amber Lee Hughes murdered four-year-old Nada-Jane Challita when the girl’s father, Elie, left her in the care of his partner while he went to a job interview while Hughes sent chilling text messages.
A sick nursery teacher who sat on her partner’s four-year-old daughter in the bathtub until she drowned carried out the horrific act for a chilling reason.
Amber Lee Hughes raped and killed her partner’s daughter, Nada-Jane Challita, after the child’s father, Elie, left her with Hughes while he went to a job interview. After Elie left, Hughes was outraged that his partner had not kissed him goodbye, believing he had been unfaithful.
“You broke my heart; I’m going to burn yours. How could you do that to me?” Hughes asked in a disturbing message before the brutal attack on January 23, 2023. The teacher then put little Nada-Jane in the bathtub, where she sat on the young girl until she drowned.
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An autopsy found that Nada-Jane had been raped twice before her tragic death. At the High Court in Johannesburg, South Africa, Hughes said: “I admit that I was suffering from borderline personality disorder at the time of the incident, but I was aware of what I was doing that day.
“The incident was triggered by the argument I had with the deceased’s father over his infidelity, and the final trigger was when he told me to stop bombarding him. I confess that after the deceased stopped responding, I left her in the bathtub with the cold water tap still running.”
After the murder, Hughes attempted to take his own life three times. When she was sentenced on Monday, Hughes claimed her behavior had been affected by her traumatic childhood and mental health.
Social worker Carina Wolmarans also testified that Hughes had been bullied and attempted to end her life several times. Wolmarans argued that Hughes deeply regretted the murder, telling the court: “He said he wished he could take it back.”
However, Judge Richard Mkabela said Hughes’ actions were “clearly premeditated”. He said Hughes’ text messages before the murder showed his intentions, adding: “The inference is irresistible that [Hughes] “He threatened to burn Mr. Challita’s heart and he carried out that threat.”
Hughes and Elie began their relationship in 2021, when the daycare teacher moved in with him and Nada-Jane. The court heard the relationship was turbulent and Hughes repeatedly threatened to harm Nada-Jane.
Hughes was convicted of premeditated murder and vaginal rape in August, charges that carry minimum sentences of life in prison. When asked about his ex-partner’s punishment, Elie said no sentence would be enough.
“Obviously, I am the father of the child. The justice I seek does not exist in this world or in this life,” he said.
