The mother of the two children who were killed by their father took the stand in his murder trial on Thursday.
Ying Tang was reluctant to take the stand and asked the judge to clear the courtroom of spectators and media for her testimony. She wanted the restrictions in place to protect her privacy and the privacy of a man she was exchanging emails with. The judge declined her request.
James Bing Louie is charged with the first degree murder of his two children and the attempted murder of his estranged wife, Ying. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
In November of 2009, police received a frantic call from a mother who was concerned about her children's welfare.
When police arrived at the Panorama Hills home they found the bodies of a Jason Louie, 13, and his sister, Jane Louie, 9.
They continued searching the home and found a man and a woman involved in a struggle in an upstairs bathroom. The woman was taken to hospital where she was treated for minor injuries.
Louie apparently found some emails between his wife and another man and accused her of having an affair.
Ying Tang testified on Thursday, that she was not having an affair and was only exchanging emails with a friend.
She wiped away tears as she spoke about finding her children's lifeless bodies.
"I turned on Jane's room light, her face was facing the door, I thought she was sleeping," said Tang, " I touched Jane's face, it was already cold."
On Wednesday, James Louie sobbed as a forensic pathologist detailed what his children would have gone through in the last moments of their lives.
Doctor Anny Sauvageau reviewed the autopsy reports on the children. She told the court that Jason died of ligature strangulation and Jane died of manual asphyxia.
The defense admits Louie killed his children and attempted to strangle his estranged wife.
James Louie's lawyer will argue that his mental state made him not criminally responsible.
