Update
NATIONAL NEWS - For the first time in more than two years, Amber Lee Hughes admitted that she drowned four-year-old Nada-Jane Therese Challita on 23 January 2023 by sitting on her, which caused the child to be submerged in water.
According to Alberton Record, these revelations were made in the Johannesburg High Court today. Her defence team, led by Marius Bouwer, read her additional admissions in terms of Section 220 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977.
Warning: The following details may upset sensitive readers
Key admissions
Hughes stated that she acknowledges her actions were unlawful and that she intended to drown the deceased.
“I admit that I suffered from borderline personality disorder at the time of the incident but was aware of what I was doing on that day. The event was triggered by the argument I had with the deceased’s father concerning his infidelity, and the final trigger was when he told me that I should stop bombarding him.
“I admit that after the deceased became unresponsive, I left her in the bathtub with the cold water tap still running. I then attempted to commit suicide by cutting my wrist with a glass bottle, which had been run over and broken by the dog.
“I made further suicide attempts by hanging myself, which was unsuccessful, and again by cutting my wrists with a knife, causing a deep laceration. I then went outside and tried to hang myself again, but could not find a suitable rope.
“I went back into the house, ran around hysterically, and then went to the lounge, where I sat next to the couch until Marwan Fallah entered the house. He administered CPR on the table in my presence. The deceased reacted and expelled fluid on the table. I was admitted to South Rand Hospital on the day of the incident, where I was classified as parasuicidal. The diagnosis made at the hospital was borderline personality disorder.
“I admit that I pleaded not guilty to the rape charges and maintain my denial that I raped the deceased by inserting any object into her anus or vagina. At all material times, I denied that, on the day in question or at any previous time, I sexually assaulted or sexually abused the deceased,” she said.
Father of deceased responds
Elie Challita, the father of Nada-Jane, expressed a sense of relief after the court proceedings. He said had Amber said in court before what she admitted now, the case could have been resolved a long time ago.
“I feel better because some of the truth is starting to come out. I’m a bit relieved, as I’ve been waiting for this moment for a very long time. It didn’t come as a big shock, because everyone knows, and it’s very clear,” he said.
He mentioned that Amber had been pleading innocent for nearly three years, and something changed today.
“The first thing I said when I came out of the court was that we could have started here from the first session, and this could have been over a long time ago. But some people don’t want to believe what they’ve done and don’t want to take responsibility. Sooner or later, it catches up with them.
“Now I know, legally, she killed my child. I’m now waiting to find out how long she tortured her before she killed her,” he said.
Elie Challita welcomes Amber’s admission Elie Challita, the father of the deceased, Nada-Jane, expressed a sense of relief after the court proceedings. He said that had Amber, said in court before, what she said now, the case could have been resolved a long time ago.
Amber’s father speaks out
Alberton Record also spoke to Amber’s father, Howard Duncan Clyde, after the court proceedings.
“This could have been sorted out a long time ago if things had been handled properly.
“I feel sorry for the other girls who still have to go through what my daughter is going through, because the state doesn’t have enough attorneys to handle the workload.
“Each attorney ends up dealing with over 300 cases, and this delays the process for at least three to four years. If Legal Aid had enough attorneys to consult with inmates, this would have been resolved already.”
Judge Richard Mkhabela postponed the case to August 7 for closing arguments.
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