Hughes Found Guilty

Judgment: 'Nothing Will Bring Her Back,' Says Grieving Dad

- Moleefe Seeletsa

Former preschool teacher Amber-Lee Hughes, who confessed to drowning her ex-partner's four-year-old daughter, has been convicted of rape and murder.

Yesterday, Hughes appeared in the High Court in Johannesburg, where Judge Richard Mkhabela delivered the verdict.

Hughes was arrested in 2023 in connection with the death of her stepdaughter, Nada-Jane Challita. She faced two counts of rape and one count of murder.

The toddler was drowned in a bathtub inside the apartment Hughes shared with her father, Elie Challita.

Although Hughes initially pleaded not guilty and maintained her innocence throughout most of the trial, she later admitted to killing Nada-Jane following an emotionally charged dispute with Chalita over his infidelity.

Hughes told the court she had been suffering from borderline personality disorder at the time but insisted she was fully aware of her actions.