Child Killer Amber-Lee Hughes Details Abuse, Isolation And Fatal Bath Incident: “It Hurts To Even Cry”

Convicted child killer Amber-Lee Hughes returned to the witness stand on Friday as part of her sentencing proceedings, delivering emotional testimony about her relationship with Ellie Challita.

Challita is the father of four-year-old Nada-Jane Challita, whom Hughes murdered in 2023.

During proceedings, the court examined early messages exchanged between Hughes and Challita. In one message read into the record, he wrote: “I can feel and see how you treat Nada,” adding, “Nada and I are so lucky that you are her teacher and you are looking after her.”

Hughes acknowledged that the flirtatious tone in their earlier exchanges had originated from Challita. She maintained that before their relationship became romantic, she had noticed what she described as concerning signs about the child’s wellbeing.

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She testified that Nada’s hair had been severely knotted, saying it was so matted that neither a comb nor her fingers could pass through it. On one occasion, she told the court, she had to cut the knots out completely.

Hughes also raised concerns about rashes she observed near the child’s private parts and buttocks, saying she advised Challita to use a barrier cream.

When confronted with affectionate messages she had sent about Nada, Hughes pointed to them as evidence of consistent care.

“It’s what I do. I love children, but Nada is just so sweet. And because of that, I will always go the extra mile for her. I promise you,” she said in a message read into the record.

Amber-Lee Hughes Claims of Control, Financial Dependence and Isolation

As the relationship progressed, Hughes described it as increasingly restrictive.

She told the court that Challita did not have formal banking access in South Africa due to his legal status, leading them to share her bank accounts. According to Hughes, this arrangement left her financially exposed.

She alleged that during arguments, he would remove money and gifts he regarded as his and accuse her of theft if she attempted to take anything back.

“We shared everything,” she testified, explaining that a substantial amount of cash kept at their home was considered communal. She said she relied on this money at a time when she had no salary and was estranged from her father and brother because of the relationship.

Hughes said she felt isolated and without support.

‘It Hurts to Even Cry’: Allegations of Assault

One of the most intense moments came when Hughes was asked about a message she had sent to Challita stating: “Please, Ellie, take care of me when I need you the most. Come and fetch me today or in the morning tomorrow. It hurts to even cry.”

She told the court that the words reflected physical pain following an alleged assault.

“During that day, Ellie, he beat me quite badly and in my face, especially and on the back of my head. So that’s when I say that it hurts to even cry.”

Hughes said she had been suffering from severe depression at the time and was not receiving psychological or psychiatric treatment. Despite describing the incident as “the worst experience we had together”, she admitted she still wanted to return to him.

“He made me feel like all I could ever have was him,” she testified.

Contact With Child Welfare and Police

Hughes stated that she eventually contacted social workers at the Edenvale Child Welfare office and approached the police over concerns about Nada.

She said this prompted a message from Challita accusing her of having “played with my daughter’s future”.

Hughes told the court that the phrase referred to his fear of possible arrest when police arrived at the house. She further alleged that he later paid for police silence.

Nada’s Final Moments in the Bath

Under questioning from the presiding officer, Hughes described the events in the bathtub that led to Nada’s death.

She testified that after apologising to the child, she sat on her back and forced her head under the water.

“It was only about two or three minutes before I felt her jerk,” she said. “And once I felt her jerk, it’s when I got off of her.”

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The presiding officer noted that the child would have struggled. Hughes conceded there had been a small struggle.

Asked why she believed it was right to take the life of a child who had done nothing to her, Hughes responded that her grievances were directed at Challita, not at Nada.

“It wasn’t justifiable, my Lord,” she said, “But at that time… I wasn’t in my right state of mind.”

The matter has been postponed to 12 March, when Challita is expected to testify. The court has requested that sufficient time be allocated for his evidence to begin and conclude on the same day.