A nursery teacher, ill at the time, tragically caused the death of her partner’s four-year-old daughter by sitting on her in the bath until she drowned, carrying out this heinous act for a disturbing reason. The teacher, identified as Amber Lee Hughes, committed the horrific deed after feeling betrayed by her partner, Elie, who had left her alone with the child while he attended a job interview. This incident occurred on January 23, 2023.
The teacher’s actions were fueled by a sense of betrayal and a belief that her partner had been unfaithful. Prior to the fatal incident, Hughes expressed her hurt and anger towards Elie, accusing him of breaking her heart and vowing to retaliate. Subsequently, she placed the young girl, Nada-Jane, in the bath where she drowned under the teacher’s weight.
An investigation revealed that Nada-Jane had been sexually assaulted twice before her untimely death. During the court proceedings at Johannesburg High Court, Hughes admitted to having borderline personality disorder but acknowledged her awareness of her actions on that fateful day.
Following the murder, Hughes made several suicide attempts. At her sentencing, she attributed her behavior to a troubled childhood and mental health issues. Despite expressing remorse and regret over the incident, the judge deemed her actions as premeditated, citing text messages that indicated her intentions.
The court also heard that Hughes and Elie’s relationship, which began in 2021, was tumultuous, marked by threats towards Nada-Jane. Hughes was convicted of premeditated murder and rape, receiving a life imprisonment sentence. Elie, the grieving father, expressed that no punishment could ever suffice for the loss of his child, emphasizing the gravity of the tragedy.