A preschool teacher has gone on trial in South Africa accused of raping and murdering her boyfriend's four-year-old daughter. Amber Lee Hughes, 25, is alleged to have raped the child with an object before drowning her in a bath and cutting her wrists.
The Johannesburg High Court heard that Hughes moved in with the girl's father after beginning a romantic relationship. Their relationship was reportedly marked by frequent altercations, during which Hughes allegedly threatened to harm the child.
On 23 January 2023, when the girl was left alone with Hughes, she is accused of raping the child and then drowning her. The child's lifeless body was later found floating in the bathtub, according to National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane.
Hughes has pleaded not guilty to two counts of rape and murder. The trial continues, with the court hearing testimony from the first witness on the opening day.
