Childcare worker cries recounting child assault claims

Lynn Abraham (Newshub.)
Lynn Abraham (Newshub.)

A former colleague of a childcare manager accused of assaulting pre-schoolers in her care has told the jury the manager told her she washed a child's mouth out with soap.

Lynn Abraham faces 11 charges relating to nine children, all of whom were under five years old.

She's on trial at the Auckland District Court.

Abraham is accused of putting cellotape over a child's mouth, force-feeding children, smacking children and washing a child's mouth out with soap.

Former colleague Santosh Vermula said Abraham told her she washed out a child's mouth with soap because the child had called a teacher a stupid "b****".

The defence lawyer questioned Ms Vermula, saying she hadn't seen Abraham wash the child's mouth out with soap.

"I only know Lynn came and told me she washed his mouth out with soap," Ms Vermula said.

Ms Vermula also told the court she saw Abraham smacking children on the hand.

Earlier on Tuesday, another former colleague, Jennifer Wong, sobbed while she was questioned over the allegation Abraham had put cellotape across a child's mouth.

"It's true that I saw it. I can show you how she put the cellotape. You can bring the cellotape, I can show you. I can swear on my daughter's life that she did put it," Ms Wong said.

The name of the childcare centre has been suppressed.

The trial continues.

Newshub.