Mother denies assaults

A mother accused of assaulting her children has denied doing anything wrong, saying the charges stem from a custody battle.

The 41-year-old Invercargill woman is on trial in Dunedin District Court on 14 charges of assaulting three of her children aged 3, 9 and 12 with implements including a fibreglass rod, wooden spoon, belt, jug cord and sandal.