Amber Lee Hughes found guilty of Nada-Jane Challita's rape & murder

Please note: The following story contains details of a graphic nature.

JOHANNESBURG - Self-confessed killer Amber Lee Hughes has been found guilty of the premeditated murder her ex-partner's daughter.

She was also found guilty of rape.

Hughes was arrested after four-year-old, Nada-Jane Challita, was discovered in a bathtub filled with water in 2023.

After many delays, judgment in the trial of the former preschool teacher was handed down on Thursday at the Johannesburg High Court.

As the judge recounted the events that occurred on 23 January 2023, the day little Nada-Jane Challita was murdered, Challita's father was visibly distraught.

Judge Richard Mkhabela said that Hughes had planned to murder the child.

"The accused made the threat. She has the propensity to make violent threats. The objective evidence shows that after stopping communication with Mr Challita at 16:35, Mr Challita continued sending the accused messages but she did not respond but had read the messages."

He added that according to the evidence handed over to the court, Hughes also raped her by inserting foreign objects into her private parts. 

The matter has been postponed to October for sentencing procedures.