Self-confessed murderer Amber Lee Hughes apologised to the court and to four-year-old Nada-Jane’s family as sentencing proceedings continued.

“I am sorry to Nada,” Hughes said. “I would like to apologise to the court as well as the family of Nada. This trial has taken a lot longer than it should have.”

She said she had accepted long ago that justice would be served.

@southern.courierSelf-confessed murderer Amber Lee Hughes apologised to the court and to four-year-old Nada-Jane’s family as sentencing proceedings continued. Full story on southerncourier.co.za♬ original sound – Southern Courier

“I accepted that I would be sentenced and that justice would be served because I committed a murder,” she said. “I am sorry for the way everything transpired and how long it has taken.”

Hughes claimed delays in the matter were due to being ill-advised by her previous legal representative.

‘I understand I must serve a sentence’

Hughes told the court she is prepared to be sentenced and understands she must face the consequences of her actions.

“From the beginning, whatever sentence I get, I understand that I need to serve a sentence for committing a murder,” she said.

@southern.courierHughes told the court she is prepared to be sentenced and understands she must face the consequences of her actions. Full story on southerncourier.co.za♬ original sound Southern Courier

She said she regrets what happened and often thinks about how Nada would have grown and what her future might have been.

“I regret more than anything in the world what happened that day,” she said.

Relationship described as horrific

Hughes described her relationship with Ellie as horrific, saying she stayed because of her love for the child.

“Her father put me through hell for a long time and I stayed because I loved that child more than anything,” she said. “I did love Ellie, but I was concerned more about Nada.”

She also stated that she never touched Nada inappropriately at any point during her relationship with Ellie or while being around the child.

Hughes says she thought about Nada daily

Reflecting on the period after her arrest, Hughes said that during the first year of her detention, there was not a day that went by that she did not think about Nada and what had happened.

“Nada and I were inseparable and I loved her more than words can explain,” she said.

She acknowledged the pain caused to both Nada’s family and her own family and said she has become numb after being detained for a long time and going through the trial process.

“I’m not blaming Ellie for what happened that day. I’m sorry to Nada about what happened. But deep down I know that Ellie drove me to do what I did that day,” she said.

The proceedings continue tomorrow.