Amber Lee Hughes Admits to Drowning 4-Year-Old in Bathtub

(The Post News)– Amber Lee Hughes, accused of drowning a 4-year-old in a bathtub, has made a shocking admission in court. Hughes, a preschool teacher, has formally admitted to drowning Nada-Jane Challita in January 2023.

This admission comes as a significant turn in the harrowing trial, which continues to seek justice for Nada-Jane following her death in January 2023 at her Glenvista home.

Hughes wept softly as her admissions were read into the record. She explicitly stated, “I admit that I drowned the deceased, Nada Jane Therese Challita, on 23 January 2023 by sitting on her, which had the result that she was submerged in the water.”

She further confessed, “I admit that after the deceased did not respond, I left her in the bathtub whilst the cold water tap was left running.” Hughes linked this grim act to a prior dispute, admitting that “the whole event was triggered by the fight 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.”

This admission represents a stark shift from earlier reports suggesting a complete denial of the murder charge. Hughes herself had claimed her initial plan was to plead guilty to the murder charge, but “due to incidents and occurrences” out of her control, she decided otherwise. She also stated she suffered from borderline personality disorder at the time, yet maintained she “was aware” of her actions on the day of the incident.

Despite this critical admission of drowning, Hughes remains adamant regarding the rape charges she faces. “I persist with the denial that I have raped the deceased,” she stated, firmly refuting the allegations. Her new counsel, Advocate Marius Bouwer, revealed her desire to make these admissions to the court.

eNCA reporter Bafedile Moerane’s coverage indicates the state has been cross-examining Hughes about her version of events, and so far, three state witnesses and the accused have given evidence.

Meanwhile, after the drowning incident, Hughes recounted multiple desperate attempts to take her life, describing injuries from a broken glass bottle and a knife and an unfulfilled attempt to hang herself. She was ultimately found in a distressed state by Marwin Fallah, a friend sent by Nada-Jane’s father, Elie Challita, to check on his daughter.

The defense was expected to call one final witness, with the matter having been set to return to court on May 28th, 2025. Further arguments specifically on the rape charges are anticipated to proceed on August 7th, 2025.

The trial continues to be a focal point, as the legal process navigates these admissions, persistent denials, and the profound sorrow surrounding a child’s lost life, all in the pursuit of justice.