A female nursery school teacher has gone on trial for raping and murdering her boyfriend's four-year-old daughter when the girl was left alone in her care.
Amber Lee Hughes, 25, stands accused of the rape and murder of Nada-Jane Challita, her lover's four-year-old daughter, and she has now gone on trial at the Johannesburg High Court in South Africa.
The trial began on Monday, 14th April, with the defendant pleading not guilty.
Picture shows little Nada-Jane, undated. She was allegedly murdered in Johannesburg, South Africa. Note: Private photo taken from social media. (Newsflash/NX)
She allegedly raped and murdered the little girl on 23rd January 2023 by inserting an object into her privates before drowning her and cutting her wrists.
A spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority, Phindi Mjonondwane, said: "The court heard that the preschool teacher allegedly developed a romantic relationship with the deceased’s father.
"She moved in with them and during her stay, their relationship was allegedly marked by frequent altercations."
Mjonondwane said that the defendant regularly threatens to harm the child during these arguments.
Picture shows little Nada-Jane, undated. She was allegedly murdered in Johannesburg, South Africa. Note: Private photo taken from social media. (Newsflash/NX)
It is alleged that when the father, Elie Challita, left the girl alone in Hughes' care, she raped the little girl by inserting an unknown object into her privates.
The spokesperson also said: "It is also alleged that she drowned her and cut both her wrists. The deceased’s lifeless body was later found floating in the bathtub.”
Challita, who was heard as a witness, told the court that Hughes had grown jealous of his daughter.
He said: "[She] was jealous about me giving [Nada-Jane] more attention and spending more money on her."
Picture shows Amber Hughes on trial, undated. She allegedly murdered her boyfriend's daughter. Note: Image is a screenshot from video. (Newsflash/NX)
On the day of the murder, Challita had gone on a job interview, but Hughes seemed angry that he did not give her a goodbye kiss before leaving and suspected him of cheating.
She sent him a chilling text message saying: "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 trial is ongoing.
(Joseph Golder / newsX)