Content Advisory: This article contains information regarding child abuse.
Prior to his passing, a 12-year-old boy, under the guardianship of two women in Burlington, Ontario, was reported to have suffered from “severe malnutrition” and weighed less than he did when he was 6 years old. Dr. Emma Cory, a pediatrician summoned by the prosecution, testified at the trial of Brandy Cooney and Becky Hamber, who have entered not guilty pleas to the charge of first-degree murder. The trial commenced last month.
The two individuals were in the process of adopting the boy, known as L.L., and his younger brother, identified in court as J.L. Both Indigenous boys’ identities are safeguarded under a publication ban.
Cooney and Hamber face additional charges of confinement, assault with a weapon (specifically zip ties), and neglecting to provide essential care to J.L.
The trial, presided over by Justice Clayton Conlan, is being conducted in Superior Court in Milton and is projected to extend into November.
The prosecution asserts that Cooney and Hamber harbored animosity towards the boys, keeping L.L. confined in his room for the majority of his final year. Furthermore, the prosecution alleges that the couple monitored the boys via cameras, restricted their food intake, and enforced exercise routines.
During witness cross-examinations, the defense highlighted the lack of assistance provided to the prospective adoptive parents by the Children’s Aid Society (CAS) and raised concerns about reported challenges faced by L.L., including behavioral issues. The attorneys representing both women also questioned the possibility of L.L. having an eating disorder or a related condition.
Cory, affiliated with the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, specializes in providing medical care to suspected victims of abuse and neglect. She scrutinized L.L.’s medical records both before and after his demise on December 21, 2022.
Throughout Cory’s testimony, which commenced on Monday and extended into Tuesday, Cooney and Hamber were seated in separate prisoner docks, appearing engrossed in taking handwritten notes and seldom lifting their gaze. Both were attired in green jail-issued jumpsuits and wore blue medical face masks.
The accused women are each represented by their respective defense counsels.
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While Cory did not directly treat L.L. during his lifetime, she meticulously reviewed years of medical records, including those from family doctor visits, to assess his growth patterns.
She noted that there were no concerns regarding his