Mother charged with abusing children

Date: Feb. 16, 2004
ST. JOHN'S - The Trinity-Conception RCMP have charged a 38-year-old woman from the Clarke's Beach area with abusing her children.

The mother faces two counts of unlawful confinement and two counts of assault.

Her six children, ranging in age from two to 11, are in protective custody. The charges involve two of the children.

The woman been ordered to undergo a psychiatric assessment. She will be back in court next week.

The police say their investigation started on Friday, following a complaint from child protection workers.

The RCMP say they've discovered the woman has a lengthy history of assaulting and confining her children. Sgt. Art Kelloway says so far the investigation goes back to 1999.

He says the Bay Roberts detachment of the RCMP investigated the woman in 1995, but no charges were laid.

Charges of assault with a weapon and causing bodily harm also are pending.

Related CBC links:

• Feb. 17,2004: Department seeks custody of 6 children

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