Ex-Memramcook daycare owner's assault trial leaves mothers in tears

Amother was in tears as shetestified Tuesdayabout the changes in behaviour she noticed in hertwo-year old daughter as she was attending theCouvede laValledaycarein Memramcook in 2014.

Celine Lang, 58, is on trial inMoncton'sCourt of Queen's Bench on14 charges, including charges of assault against 12 children ather daycare,Couvede laValle.She is also charged with assault and assault with a weapon a flower pot against an employee.

The mothersaid her daughter started developing anxiety, having trouble sleeping andeven showing aggressive behaviour at home.

• Memramcook daycare owner's trial hears child tied to chair with shoelaces

The mother testified that one day she saw her daughter playing with her dolls, pushing themaggressively, imitating whatLangis alleged to have done to get children tosleep when they were restless.

I just knew intuitively as a mother, that something wasn'tright.- A mother's testimony

She recalled even hearing the daughter scream "Dodo, dodo,"which is what witnesses saidLangscreamed as she allegedly pushed children's headsagainst the ground.

The mother said she thought it was odd her daughter would scream the words in French, because they spoke English at home.

"I just knew intuitively as a mother, that something wasn'tright," testified the mother.

A court order prohibits publication of any information that would identify the children involved in the case, including the name of their parents.

Bite marks

The mothersaid she eventually saw bite marks on her child's forearm, and a cut under her nose.

She said she confrontedLangabout it, who told the mother her childhad been biting other children, and allegedly recommended biting the child as a parenting technique to discipline them when they showed this behaviour.

The testimony attracted members of the public Tuesday, and many found it difficult to listen, with some shedding tears as they heard the testimony.

Anothermother was also in tears as she testifiedabout finding several bruises on her two-year-old son's arms, face and eyes in 2014.

"There arethings a child should never have to go through," said the woman.

Two parents described to the court how their childrendeveloped a phobia of daycare, often crying, begging parents not to make them go.

Former employee testifies

Testimony was also difficult for former daycare employeeJoseDelarosbil, whose credibility was called into question byLang'sdefence lawyerHazenBrienduring cross-examination.

Brien grilled Delarosbil with questions aboutwhy she never mentioned any of the allegedabuse incidents to one of the mothers, whom she had been in contact with on Facebookover the course of eight months.

Things got so intense that court had to go on break in the middle of cross-examination, whenDelarosbil said in tears she didn't want to answer any more questions.

When court resumed, Delarosbiltestifiedshe had beenreluctantto speak up about the alleged abuse at the time because she was scared of how Lang would react, until one day, when she said she'd had enough and called police.

The offences are all alleged to have occurred between July and September of 2014.