ATTENTION: This article relates to allegations of child abuse.
The verdict in the murder trial of a couple accused in the 2022 death of a 12-year-old boy and the alleged mistreatment of his younger brother is set to be announced on May 5 as part of court proceedings in Ontario that commenced in mid-September.
Becky Hamber, 46, and Brandy Cooney, 44, from Burlington, face charges in connection with the death of the older boy in 2022. Additionally, the Crown has alleged that they subjected his younger brother to torture and confinement. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and other offenses related to the boys under their care.
The trial, presided over by Superior Court Justice Clayton Conlan in Milton, began in mid-September and has been described as “lengthy and difficult.” Closing arguments concluded in March.
During a virtual court session on Friday, Cooney, who was remotely present from the Vanier Centre for Women jail, learned about the scheduled verdict announcement. Hamber was absent. Justice Conlan is expected to deliver the verdict at 9 a.m. ET and provide a written judgment. He was not in attendance on Friday.
CBC’s Justin Chandler, covering the trial, analyzes the closing arguments presented by both sides.
The deceased, L.L., was originally from the Ottawa area but had been living with Hamber, Cooney, and his sibling, J.L., since 2017. For privacy reasons, CBC is using initials to refer to the Indigenous boys in compliance with a standard publication ban.
Text messages stir controversy as part of evidence
Throughout the seven-month trial, numerous witnesses, including social workers, healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement officers, testified. Hamber, Cooney, and J.L., now 14, also provided testimony over several days. Evidence presented included thousands of deleted text messages recovered by the police, extensive audio recordings, and numerous images, including footage from surveillance cameras the defendants utilized to monitor the boys.
The Crown’s argument is that Hamber and Cooney harbored animosity towards the boys, citing offensive and dehumanizing language in their text messages about them. Lawyer Kelli Frew, in her closing statement, alleged that the pair subjected the boys to abuse, torture, and starvation, isolating them from the community and medical professionals as L.L.’s health deteriorated, leading to his demise due to malnutrition and hypothermia.
In October, Ontario’s deputy chief forensic pathologist testified that the cause of death for L.L., determined through an autopsy, was inconclusive but potentially linked to hypothermia or cardiac arrest resulting from severe malnourishment.
The Crown contended that due to L.L.’s death while under unlawful confinement by Cooney and Hamber in their basement, the offense, which would typically be second-degree murder, should be considered first-degree.
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