Ex-daycare owner testifies she tied children to chairs when they were restless

Former daycare owner Celine Lang told a New Brunswick court today that she tied children to chairs and threw a glass of water in a child's face to "calm him down."

Celine Lang, 58, is on trial in the Court of Queen's Bench in Moncton on 10 charges of assaulting children at her Couvée de la Vallée daycare in Memramcook.

She is also charged with assault and assault with a weapon — a flower pot — against an employee.

She is being tried by a judge alone.

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Lang was facing 12 charges of assaulting children, but before starting to present his case on Tuesday morning, defence lawyer Hazen Brien asked that two of the charges be withdrawn, saying not enough evidence had been introduced by the Crown prosecutor last week to justify them.

The Crown didn't object, and Justice Jean-Paul Ouellette acquitted Lang on two assault charges.

Accused testifies

Lang testified Tuesday that she liked to run a tight ship at the daycare and said there was a high employee turnover. 

"There was incompetence from the employees," said Lang.

"No respect for the rules, and a lack of understanding of the rules."

Lang told the court she had a rule against employees talking with parents because she said that worried them unnecessarily.

Addressing allegations made earlier in the trial, Lang said she threw a glass of water at a child's face when he was agitated because he had finished lunch early and wanted to go play.

"A child has to learn the rules of society," she told the court.

She said she reported the incident to the school district, which oversees daycares in New Brunswick, "in case they heard it from someone else."

She said she did not alert the parents. 

Lang testified that she tied children to chairs when they were being restless, but pointed out that she used scarves, not shoelaces or ropes as some witnesses testified last week.

She also denied allegations by former employees that she had bitten children.

"I never bit any child in my life," said Lang.

Denies assaulting employee

From the witness box, Lang denied hitting former employee Josée Delarosbil on Sept. 30, 2014, which was the accusation that led police to open an investigation.

She said the two had an argument after Lang found out Delarosbil had told a mother her child was going to be switching groups at the daycare, which Lang said angered the parent.

"I went downstairs and I said, 'Josée how many times do I have to tell you not to talk to parents,'" said Lang in a high tone of voice, becoming more agitated in court. 

The employee alleged Lang grabbed her by shoulders and threw her against against a wall while she was holding a baby.

But Lang told the court she did not hit the baby or Delarosbil.

Husband calls her 'wonderful'

Lang's husband and co-owner of the daycare Daniel Lang, 56, testified Tuesday morning.

He said he was present when his wife threw water in the face a two-year-old, saying it was the right thing to do in the circumstances.

"I didn't know what to do," he said.

"The boy's face and lips had changed colour, he looked like he was having a hard time breathing," he said. "I had never seen anything like this. I told her she was wonderful."

Crown prosecutor Eric Lalonde asked Lang why he didn't call 911 if the boy was having a hard time breathing. Lang said the child started to breathe normally moments after being doused with water.

"That's not what you said earlier in your testimony," said Lalonde.

"You said it took some time."

Court will resume on Wednesday, when the Crown's cross-examination of Lang is expected to begin.

The defence is expected to call more witnesses.