WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT AND GRAPHIC DETAILS
A former preschool teacher has been found guilty of raping and murdering her ex-partner’s four-year-old daughter.
Amber Lee Hughes, 29, had previously admitted to drowning Nada-Jane Chalita, who was found in a bathtub in her Glenvista, Johannesburg home in January 2023.
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A post-mortem examination indicated that Nada-Jane had also been sexually assaulted.
Hughes, who was in a relationship with the girl’s father, Elie Chalita, at the time of the murder, was arrested and charged.
Initially, she pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape and one count of murder, but later admitted to killing Nada-Jane.
Hughes said she had drowned the girl by sitting on top of her while she was in a bathtub inside her father’s apartment.
She told the court that the killing happened after an emotionally charged dispute with Mr Chalita over infidelity, Knysna-Plett Herald reported.
Hughes said she had suffered from borderline personality disorder at the time of the killing in 2023, but that she had been fully aware of her actions.
She cited multiple failed suicide attempts after Nada-Jane’s death, but continued to deny the rape charges.
On Thursday, Judge Richard Mkhabela of the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg, South Africa, found her guilty of both murder and rape.
He said Hughes’ admission met all the elements of murder.
In the process of giving the verdict, he highlighted Hughes’ persistent denial of the rape charges, before finding her guilty on only one count of rape.
Hughes was found guilty of raping the girl vaginally, but was found not guilty of raping her anally.
Speaking to eNCA after Hughes was found guilty, Mr Chalita said his daughter was “tortured” to death and that closure from the judgment was only partial.
“Three accusations, three accounts. Two-thirds closure, one third is hanging in the air. But that is the system, and we respect the outcome, and thank God we had an outcome,” he said.
Rolene Barnard, a state prosecutor, said that the defence was still waiting for a report from a social worker, and so an agreement for a later sentencing date was reached.
She said the prosecution plans to submit a victim-impact statement and present expert evidence in those proceedings.
Social media users expressed their outrage over Hughes’ actions, and their sympathy for Nada-Jane’s loved ones.
“My heart is broken for the parents, and I can’t imagine the pain this child went through,” one Facebook user wrote.
“Absolutely disgusting. What is going on in this world. Leave our precious beautiful children alone. They deserve love, care. I am a mother of two boys who are my life. This has broken my heart. South Africa we need to stand up for our children and protect them please,” another wrote.
Hughes’ sentencing has been postponed until October.
If you or someone you know needs help, contact 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), or Sexual Assault Counselling Australia on 1800 211 028.
Lifeline: 13 11 14.
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