An atrocious incident unfolded when a nursery school teacher, Amber Lee Hughes, confessed to the heinous act of raping and killing her boyfriend’s four-year-old daughter, Nada-Jane Chalita, by drowning her in a bathtub. Hughes, 25, admitted to this dreadful crime, which stemmed from her paranoid belief that her partner was cheating on her.
The tragic event occurred on January 23, 2023, in Johannesburg, where Nada-Jane’s father, Elie, had left her under Hughes’ care while attending a job interview. Hughes, driven by jealousy after Elie’s perceived indifference, forced the child into the bathtub and held her underwater until she drowned.
Initially denying the charges of murder, Hughes later changed her plea to guilty during the trial. She confessed to drowning Nada-Jane by sitting on her and leaving her in the bathtub with the tap running after she went silent. The court learned that Hughes had sent threatening messages to Elie before the murder, hinting at her intentions.
During the proceedings, Hughes attributed her actions to her troubled childhood and mental health struggles, expressing deep remorse for her actions. However, Judge Richard Mkabela pointed out that the murder was premeditated, citing Hughes’ threatening messages as evidence of her intent.
Hughes had entered into a relationship with Elie in 2021 and moved in with him and Nada-Jane. The court revealed the tumultuous nature of their relationship, with Hughes making repeated threats against Nada-Jane.
In August, Hughes was convicted of premeditated murder and vaginal rape, offenses carrying life imprisonment under South African law. Elie expressed his anguish over the tragic loss of his daughter, emphasizing that no justice could compensate for her death.
The victim’s family faced further disappointment as the sentencing was postponed until February 16, 2026, causing additional frustration and anguish.