Amber Lee Hughes says she suffered borderline personality disorder on day she drowned Nada-Jane Challita
Amber Lee Hughes was arrested in 2023 following the death of her ex-boyfriend’s daughter, Nada-Jane Challita.
Former preschool teacher, Amber Lee Hughes, made an appearance in the Johannesburg High Court on 24 July 2025 for the murder of 4-year-old Nada-Jane Chalita. Picture: Sphamandla Dlamini/EWN
JOHANNESBURG - A former preschool teacher accused of the rape and murder of a four-year-old claims she suffered from a borderline personality disorder on the day the crime was committed.
Amber Lee Hughes was arrested in 2023 following the death of her ex-boyfriend’s daughter, Nada-Jane Challita.
The little girl was found dead after drowning in the bathtub of the apartment she shared with her father and Hughes.
During court proceedings on Thursday, Hughes’ new legal representatives made a submission that she had admitted to drowning the child.
On Thursday, the Johannesburg High Court heard new shocking revelations of how the little girl died.
ALSO READ: Father of murdered Nada-Jane Challita relieved to know truth of what happened to his daughter
In the admission reading, Hughes’ lawyer, Marius Bouwer, revealed that she drowned the four-year-old by sitting on her in a bath filled with cold water
Hughes sat calmly in the Johannesburg High Court listening to the admission statement.
But through her lawyer, Hughes has maintained her stance that she did not rape the child.
"I admit that my actions were unlawful and that I had the intention to drown the deceased. Paragraph 10: I admit that I suffered a borderline personality disorder at the time when the incident occurred, but was aware of what I was doing on that day."
Arguments will be heard on 7 August.