Woman charged for stepdaughter's murder denied bail amid suicide fears

The Johannesburg magistrate's court has denied bail to the 23-year-old woman accused of killing her stepdaughter.

Amber Hughes is facing a charge of murder after she allegedly drowned her four-year-old stepdaughter, Nada-Jane Therèse Challita, on January 23 after a telephonic argument with her father, the court heard.

The state, through the investigating officer, opposed her release on bailing, citing that she was a danger to herself and that her release could lead to public unrest.

Investigating officer Capt Donovan Phillips told the court that Hughes tried to harm herself after committing the crime.

"She had cut herself on the wrist. The other thing is that the community is very angry at her for what she did and we can't guarantee her safety," he said.

Phillips told the court he was also receiving a lot of strange calls from unknown numbers and the callers were interested in knowing whether or not Hughes had been granted bail.

Magistrate van der Schyff agreed with the state's submissions and told Hughes that although she is a first-time offender with a stable job as an assistant teacher at a nursery school, he could not grant her bail as she had failed to take the court into confidence and give her account of what really transpired on the day the child died.

"You have opted to remain silent. Although you have a right to remain silent, you don't have to," Van der Schyff said.

He said the state presented a strong case so far.

According to the evidence led in court, Hughes was found sitting in a different room, while the toddler was found in a bath, full of water.

"I find it strange that you sat in a different room, and left the child floating in the water, with the tap still running. You were aware that the child drowned but you didn't try to resuscitate her or get help for her," the magistrate said.

He also said it was a risk that she might try to commit suicide due to the serious charges she is facing.

Throughout the proceedings, while sitting in the dock, Hughes was crying and made little eye contact with her father, who was sitting across from her. Dressed in a short polka-dot red dress, Hughes was also twitching her polished red nails and pulled occasionally on her ponytail.

She is set to return to court later this month. 

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