Therapist Defends Herself in 'Rebirthing' Trial

April 17, 2001 -- A therapist accused of contributing to the death of a 10-year-old during a controversial technique called "rebirthing" told jurors today she thought the girl had fallen asleep during the therapy.

Therapist Connell Watkins also said she was unaware that Candace Newmaker was having medical problems until another therapist taking part in the session unwrapped the girl and they found Candace was not breathing.

Watkins, testifying for a second day, said the other therapist, Julie Ponder, was in charge of the session. On Monday, Watkins testified that the rebirthing technique was designed to bring out rage within the patient, in this case a troubled child with a history of destructive outbursts.

Candace had been diagnosed with attachment disorder, which can make children resist forming loving relationships. She suffocated last April during a 70-minute rebirthing session that was supposed to help the girl bond with her mother.

Watkins and Ponder are charged with reckless child abuse leading to the girl's death.

Caught on Tape

A videotape of the rebirthing session, which took place in Watkins' home office, is being used as a key piece of evidence in the case, being heard in Golden, Colo.

In the videotape of the session, played last week in court, the girl can be heard screaming that she couldn't breathe, had vomited and defecated and wanted to die.

It shows her wrapped in a blue flannel sheet, covered by large pillows and four adults weighing a total of 673 pounds. They were pressing on the girl in an effort to simulate birth contractions.

Today, Watkins testified: "I wanted Julie to unwrap her and check on her. I thought she [Candace] fell asleep. Julie said, 'Oh, she's fine. She's a little sweaty but she's fine.' "

'I'm Going to Die Now'

Just 10 minutes into the taped session the little girl begins pleading with the group to get off of her. "It's not helping," Candace said. "Please quit pushing on me. I can't do it."

Two minutes later she told the group she thought she was dying. "I'm going to die now," she said "no, I don't want to, but I'm about to."

The therapists responded: "That's the way the baby feels," they said. "You want to die? OK, then die. Go ahead, die right now."

During the investigation, Watkins told investigators they didn't take the girl's pleas seriously. She claimed the death and rebirth were metaphorical.

After more than an hour of this, they unwrapped Candace. It had been 30 minutes since the little girl said a word. She was blue and unconscious. Candace died the next day at a Denver hospital.

Criminal defense attorney Craig Silverman, who is the former chief deputy district attorney for the city of Denver and has been following the case, told ABCNEWS' Good Morning America that the odds in the case favored the prosecution.

Silverman said the videotape evidence was a very compelling and persuasive piece of evidence.

The defense lawyers say Candace's death was a tragic accident. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty.

Silverman said Watkins is trying to defend herself by focusing on her line of work. Some of Watkins' former patients have testified that they benefited from her treatment.

"She is saying 'look, this is what I do for a living, this has helped other people.'"