Evil nursery teacher ‘raped and drowned lover's daughter, 4, by sitting on tot in bath until she stopped struggling'
Amber Lee Hughes is also accused of sickeningly raping little Nada-Jane Challita with an object just before killing her.
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Ms Hughes told Johannesburg High Court that she sat on the defenceless child to force her head underwater until she stopped breathing.
Nada-Jane was killed by Ms Hughes as she was looking to get revenge on the tot's dad over cheating claims, the court in South Africa heard.
On January, 23, 2023 Nada-Jane and Ms Hughes were left alone after dad Elie Challita went for a job interview in the South African capital.
Elie was then subject to abuse from Ms Hughes who claimed her long-term boyfriend was cheating on her when he was away.
She sent a chilling text which read: "You broke my heart. I'm going to burn yours. How could you do that to me?"
The couple's relationship had been marred with infidelity remarks since they started dating back in 2021 before moving in together.
Nada-Jane, who had known Ms Hughes for almost her whole life, was living with her dad in the same house.
The National Prosecuting Authority's Phindi Mjonondwane said: "During her stay, their relationship was allegedly marked by frequent altercations."
But tensions boiled over last year and resulted in Nada-Jane's tragic murder.
Hughes had always denied having any involvement in the child's death until the most recent court hearings.
She confessed to the court, saying: "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."
Ms Hughes continues to deny raping the girl.
She told prosecutors after realising Nada-Jane had died she tried to take her own life but stopped after injuring herself with a glass bottle.
Hughes was remanded in custody until the next hearing which is scheduled to take place on August 7.
A heartbroken Elie says that after over 18 months he is finally relieved to know the truth.
He added: "Now I know, legally, she killed my child. I'm now waiting to find out how long she tortured her before she killed her.
"My life has been on hold. Everything is on hold until this thing finishes.
"Only then can I look forward, only then can I look after myself, only then can I look at anything else."
This is the second disturbing child abuse case to rock South Africa in 2025.
Back in May, a twisted mum was sentenced to life in prison after a court heard she " sold her daughter for her eyes and skin".
Racquel "Kelly" Smith was jailed alongside two accomplices after being found guilty of kidnapping and trafficking her six-year-old daughter.
The trial heard that the child, Joshlin Smith, was sold to a traditional healer for her body parts and never seen again.
A witness said Smith had spoken of selling her children for 20,000 rand (£850) each.
Another testified that Smith had planned to sell the girl to a healer, called a "sangoma", who wanted the child for her bright green eyes and fair-complexioned skin.
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