The emotional testimony of Nada-Jane’s father, Elie Challita, continued in the Johannesburg High Court on August 27 as sentencing proceedings against Amber-Lee Hughes entered another harrowing chapter.

Before reading his own nine-page letter, Challita asked the court for permission to first read selected excerpts from a lengthy message Hughes had sent him on September 16, 2022.

He explained that the original message was about 12 pages long and that he would read only two pages from it.

In the message, Hughes described Challita as “the man who I will always believe is my true soulmate” and apologised repeatedly for hurting him during their relationship.

She wrote that she was sorry for taking advantage of his kindness, making him feel unsafe, damaging his belongings and hurting the people who loved her most.

She also admitted she had “a habit of hurting the ones who love me the most” and “a habit of blaming others even though it is my fault.”

Family memories shown in court

During the proceedings, the court viewed photographs and videos showing Challita and Nada-Jane together throughout different stages of her life.

When questioned about the montage, Challita said it reflected “throughout most of her life” and described it as only a small selection of their memories.

He told the court Hughes appeared in only two of the images shown, while the rest were taken before she entered their lives.

The court also heard that the video compilation was handed in as Exhibit 1 on a memory stick.

Letter originally written in Arabic

After reading Hughes’ message, Challita turned to his own letter addressed to her.

He told the court he had originally written it in Arabic, his mother tongue, before translating it into English. He stressed that the letter was not intended as a threat or an attack on the court, but as a personal expression of grief following the death of his daughter.

In the letter, Challita accused Hughes of using his love for his daughter as a way to hurt him, saying no sentence could answer questions about the suffering Nada-Jane allegedly endured before her death.

He told the court he had pleaded with Hughes to leave Nada-Jane out of their relationship problems and reminded her of conversations in which he had warned that harming the child would destroy both their lives.

Challita also claimed he had previously opened a domestic violence file against Hughes after she allegedly threatened the child and said she had repeatedly promised she would never hurt Nada-Jane.

The court adjourned until August 28, when the defence is expected to begin cross-examining Challita.

WATCH: Nada-Jane’s father takes the stand during Amber-Lee Hughes sentencing