17-07-2025
Woman charged over murder of boyfriend's daughter denied bail amid suicide fears
Magistrate Lukas van der Schyff agreed with the state's submissions and told Hughes that though she is a first-time offender with a stable job as an assistant teacher at a nursery school, he could not grant her bail as she had failed to take the court into confidence and give her account of what transpired on the day the child died.
'You have opted to remain silent. Though you have a right to remain silent, you don't have to,' Van der Schyff said.
According to the evidence led in court, Hughes was found sitting in a different room while the toddler was found in a bath full of water.
'I find it strange that you sat in a different room and left the child floating in the water with the tap still running. You were aware the child drowned but you didn't try to resuscitate her or get help for her,' the magistrate said.
There was also a risk she might try to commit suicide due to the serious charges she faces.
Throughout proceedings, while sitting in the dock, Hughes was crying and made little eye contact with her father who was sitting across from her. Dressed in a short polka dot red dress, Hughes was twitching her polished red nails and pulled occasionally on her ponytail.
She is set to return to court later this month.
TimesLIVE
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