Baby Nikita’s father admits he intended to kill daughter in guilty plea

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The father of four-year-old, Baby Nikita, has admitted that he intended to kill his daughter when he repeatedly assaulted her and drowned her in a bath at their Eldorado Park home in August 2025.

The 34-year-old made the admission in a written statement presented to the Johannesburg High Court on Thursday, as he pleaded guilty to several charges, including murder, rape and child abuse.

“I admit that I had the intention of killing the deceased.”

In his statement, he admitted that on 6 August 2025, he was responsible for looking after his daughter while her mother was at work.

He said he repeatedly hit and bit the four-year-old before drowning her in a bath. He admitted that he knew his actions were unlawful and could result in her death, but continued the assault.

Police arrived at the family’s home at about 2.15pm and found the child unconscious on a bed. She was rushed to Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, where she died on 8 August 2025.

The statement records the cause of death as blunt-force trauma to the head and hypoxia, including complications arising from those injuries.

“I knew that my actions could result in the death of the deceased, but I nevertheless continued to assault the deceased in disregard of that knowledge.”

The father also admitted to two acts of sexual penetration involving his daughter on the day of the incident.

His statement further details an earlier incident in March 2025, in which he admitted assaulting his two-year-old son by hitting him several times across the body and causing injuries.

He also pleaded guilty to assaulting a police sergeant and resisting arrest when officers attempted to restrain him after finding his daughter unconscious.

Explaining his decision to plead guilty, the father said he wanted to spare witnesses and family members that anguish of a lengthy trial.

“My instructions to my legal representative are that I wish to plead guilty and not extend the anguish to the witnesses and our families by entering into a lengthy trial.”

His statement says he understands the charges and applicable sentences, that his plea is voluntary and that he has not been promised any benefit in exchange for pleading guilty.

The children’s mother has pleaded not guilty to the charges against her. She faces allegations linked to the case, including failing to report an alleged sexual offence against the child.

Written by: Lebohang Ndashe