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 is on trial for the alleged crime at the Johannesburg High Court.
The defendant has pleaded not guilty.
The alleged murder is reported to have taken place in Mulbarton, a suburb south of Johannesburg.
The trial began on Monday April 14.
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 the defendant would threaten harm to the child during an argument.
The rape and murder of Nada-Jane is alleged to have happened while the father, Elie Challita, left her alone in Hughes' care.
She is alleged to have raped, murdered and drowned the four-year-old.
The spokesperson added: “It is also alleged that she drowned her and cut both her wrists.”
The child's body was reportedly found in a bathtub.
The father Elie Challita was 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.
Challitahad 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.
She also detailed the injuries the child had sustained.
The trial remains ongoing.
