A PRESCHOOL teacher is standing trial in South Africa for the rape and murder of her boyfriend’s four-year-old daughter.
Amber Lee Hughes, 25, allegedly raped and murdered Nada-Jane Challita on January 23, 2023.
She has pleaded not guilty to the charges and faces trial at the Johannesburg High Court in South Africa.
The rape and killing Nada-Jane is alleged to have happened while the father, Elie Challita, left her alone in Hughes’ care.
She is alleged to have become “jealous” of the girl and the attention her partner lavished on his child.
The trial began on Monday April 14.
The alleged murder is reported to have taken place in Mulbarton, a suburb south of Johannesburg.
According to Phindi Mjonondwan, who is a representative of the National Prosecuting Authority, the court was told that the preschool teacher was accused of engaging in a romantic involvement with the father of the deceased.
“She moved in with them and during her stay, their relationship was allegedly marked by frequent altercations.”
Mjonondwane said the defendant had threatened harm to the child during an argument.
She is alleged to have raped, murdered and drowned the four-year-old.
The child’s body was reportedly found in a bathtub.
Her partner Elie – the girl’s father – is also a witness at the trial.
He told the court that Hughes had become jealous of his daughter.
“[She] was jealous about me giving [Nada-Jane] more attention and spending more money on her,” he said.
Challita had gone a job interview on the day of the alleged murder.
But Hughes is reported to have suspected him of cheating, and sent him a chilling text message.
It reads: “You broke my heart; I’m going to burn yours. How could you do that to me?”
The father said: “I felt my heart fall from my chest; I felt something was very wrong.”
The prosecution called Dr Hestelle van Staden, an expert in forensic pathology, as a witness on Tuesday.
She explained her findings from the autopsy.
Dr van Staden said the cause of death was asphyxiation and sexual assault.
The trial remains ongoing.
