'I drowned lover's child'

Killing triggered by relationship tensions - accused.

- Enkosi Selane

Amber Lee Hughes has confessed to drowning her former lover's four-year-old daughter following a domestic dispute, ending years of denial in one of South Africa's most disturbing child murder cases.

The preschool teacher broke down in tears at the High Court in Johannesburg yesterday, as she admitted to killing Nada-Jane Challita, reversing her previous not guilty plea just days before her trial was set to conclude.

However, she continues to deny charges that she sexually assaulted the child before the murder.

The shocking admission came a week after Hughes made a last-minute change to her legal team, forcing a postponement of proceedings that had been expected to reach judgment last week.

Judge Richard Mkhabela had previously expressed concern about the timing of Hughes' decision to change legal teams, on 18 July, just as the case was nearing its conclusion.