The court was told that the woman stands accused of hitting her children with her open palm, with a stick from a tree, and with a fly swat. She also pulled the hair of both her son and daughter. The events occurred between 2017 and March 2019 in Schifflange.
As the defendant made her case, it appeared as if two types of raising children had clashed. The mother maintained she had just threatened the children with the stick and fly swat, whereas the father added the children had been happy until the authorities had intervened. The woman's lawyer described her actions as 'corrective educational measures', but the court president and prosecutor both decried the woman's manner of treating her children.
The judge dismissed the claim that the woman had only threatened her children, reminding the defendant the court deals with past events. The defendant seemed to appear as if she had not correctly understood the judge, but then admitted on Thursday that she had hit the children with her hand or a stick 'on one or two occasions' when the children were fighting.
Initially, the father told the court he did not believe his wife had hit the kids, saying instead that she would intervene and gently slap the kids on the legs if fights occurred. Whilst he maintained his children would not lie, he attributed the woman's actions to being threats rather than actual physical violence.
The woman's defence lawyer described both parents as good parents, arguing that they should not be criminally liable. She described the actions as 'lesser acts of violence', and that the court should not base itself on statements made by children. Finally, the lawyer called for the woman to be acquitted.
At the beginning of Thursday's session, an educator who works with the young boy spoke to the court. She testified that the boy was very fearful in March and had said he would be punished at home if he makes mistakes. Whilst she did not seek further evidence, she reported the case to social workers. The prosecutor reminded the court that both children confirmed that physical violence was recurrent. She added that both children had been traumatised by the events and above all, the son was scared of his mother. Both seemed happier with their father.
The verdict will take place on 30 January.
