Former pre-school teacher Amber Lee Hughes, who on Thursday admitted to drowning her ex-boyfriend’s daughter, Nada-Jane Challita, has claimed she suffered from Borderline Personality Disorder at the time of the incident, but that she was fully aware of her actions.

Hughes was arrested in January 2023 for the murder, but throughout her trial maintained her innocence and pleaded guilty to all the charges against her.

Last week, judgment was meant to be handed down, but Hughes suddenly had to get new legal representation.

Today, in a shocking turn, Hughes submitted through her new lawyer that she did drown the 4-year-old Nada-Jane in a bathtub at her home on 23 January 2023.

Hughes sat on the little girl in the bathtub, filling it with cold water until Nada-Jane was completely submerged. Her lifeless body was later discovered floating in the full bath. Hughes has, however, maintained her stance that she did not rape the child.

The former preschool teacher also admitted that the entire incident was indeed sparked by an argument with her boyfriend and Nada-Jane’s father, Elie Challita, over Challita’s alleged infidelity.

The two fought all day on the phone and via WhatsApp messages, while Challita was in Polokwane. Hughes was alone with Nada-Jane at their home in Mulbarton, Johannesburg, at the time of the incident.

According to Hughes, the final trigger was Challita’s comment that she should “stop bombarding him”. Her last words to him were reportedly “you broke my heart, now I’m going to burn yours”.

Hughes claims that she attempted to take her own life three times. She allegedly first tried to cut her wrist with a piece of glass from a broken bottle. She then allegedly tried to hang herself, which also failed. She then tried to cut both her wrists with a knife, causing a deep cut.

The case has been postponed to 7 August 2025 for closing arguments on the admissions and for her legal team to prepare arguments on the rape charges. Hughes remains in custody until her next court appearance.