The Johannesburg High Court has questioned the validity of self-confessed killer Amber Lee Hughes’ testimony after she lied under oath.
Hughes was arrested after murdering her ex-partner’s daughter in 2023 by drowning her in a bathtub.
On Thursday, the court heard both the State and defence’s final arguments before judgement can be handed down on 28 August 2025.
Amber Lee Hughes
The former pre-school teacher’s defence team argued that Hughes did not plan to murder the 4-year-old.
Meanwhile, the State highlighted the volatile texts that Hughes and Elie Challita exchanged on the day Nada Jane died – which contained threats from Hughes.
Judge Richard Mkhabela questioned why he should consider Hughes’ statement after she lied to the court for two years.
“The matter was delayed. Then comes a huge about turn, making all this testimony of this witness as far as matter is concerned irrelevant, and the agony caused by the calling of this witness to the deceased family. What should I make of it?
The matter was postponed for judgment in three weeks.
In other news – DStv dumps ‘Open Chats Podcast’ after comments about coloured community
DStv has dropped the Open Chats Podcast amid a wave of backlash against derogatory remarks made about the coloured community in a recent episode.
The comments sparked outrage on social media and drew the attention of PA leader and sport, arts, and culture minister Gayton McKenzie, who came out strongly against the podcast and its hosts. Read More
