The trial involving two women from Burlington, Ontario, accused of the death of a 12-year-old boy in their care has heard testimony from various professionals involved in the mental health treatment of the children. A social worker, therapist, psychiatrist, and service coordinator described Brandy Cooney and Becky Hamber as struggling to care for the boys due to perceived trauma, seeking additional support, and exhibiting concerning behaviors that were noted as “yellow flags.”
The older boy, identified as L.L., passed away in December 2022, while the identities of L.L. and his younger brother, J.L., remain protected under a publication ban. Cooney and Hamber, who were in the process of adopting the Indigenous brothers at the time of L.L.’s death, have pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder, confinement, assault with a weapon, and failure to provide the necessities of life to J.L.
During the trial in Milton presided over by Justice Clayton Conlan, the Crown has alleged that Cooney and Hamber mistreated and neglected the boys, subjecting them to confinement, food restriction, and the use of zip ties. The court was informed that emergency services were called on the night L.L. stopped breathing, revealing a severely malnourished condition, although the cause of death was undetermined in the autopsy report.
In testimony, a social worker revealed that she did not witness the reported negative behaviors from the boys during her sessions, raising concerns about the parenting strategies employed by Cooney and Hamber. The defense has argued that the accused were struggling to manage L.L.’s challenging behaviors, attributing them to trauma the boys experienced before being under their care.
Furthermore, a psychiatrist detailed L.L.’s potential mental health disorders, including disruptive mood dysregulation disorder, PTSD, reactive attachment disorder, and ADHD. The psychiatrist acknowledged the challenges faced by Cooney and Hamber in seeking appropriate support for L.L., indicating their stress and feeling overwhelmed by the behaviors described at home.
Overall, the trial continues to delve into the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of L.L. and the care provided by Cooney and Hamber to the brothers, shedding light on the complexities of the case.
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