Accused woman blames Children's Aid Society and eating disorder for child's death, Milton court hears

WARNING: This story details allegations of child abuse.

In a note written six months after a child died in her care, Becky Hamber said she was not to blame for his death, a Milton, Ont., court heard Friday.

Instead, she blamed decisions made by the Children's Aid Society (CAS) and an alleged eating disorder for resulting in the 2022 death of the 12-year-old, who was living with Hamber and her wife Brandy Cooney in Burlington, Ont.

The note was discussed in court Friday, among other communications Hamber and Cooney made before and after the boy's death, all of which were uncovered during an investigation led by Halton police Sgt. Julie Powers.

Powers' testimony wrapped up on Friday. She was the Crown’s last witness in the trial of the two women, who are accused of first-degree murder of the boy they were trying to adopt.

The two women are also facing charges of confinement, assault with a weapon — zip ties — and failing to provide the necessaries of life related to his younger brother. They’ve pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The brothers are referred to as L.L. and J.L. in CBC News' coverage of the trial since their identities are protected under a standard publication ban. L.L. died in Hamber and Cooney’s care on Dec. 21, 2022. His brother, J.L., is now 13.

The women were first arrested on Jan. 17, 2023, on the charges related to J.L., then arrested again on Feb. 29, 2024, for L.L.’s alleged murder.

Their trial in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice began in mid-September.

Court heard from Powers all week. On Thursday, assistant Crown attorney Monica MacKenzie played the court a video of the statement Hamber gave to Halton police following her arrest.

In it, she denied some allegations made against her and her wife and said the detective shouldn't believe J.L. as she said he was dishonest.

Court heard more from Hamber on Friday through a note and videos found on a computer at the home where she was staying after being arrested and released in 2023 and before being arrested again in 2024.

The June 14, 2023, note was for a group therapy session where she talked about how traumatic L.L.’s death was for her and her wife, how she was struggling and missed L.L. and why she thought he died.

Powers read the note from Hamber in which she said she and her wife were not the reason he died but rather why he survived as long as he did and says if she were to “assign direct blame” it would be to Children’s Aid Society and what she said were their inadequacies — like “ignoring” eating disorders because of a child’s age — and inconsistent decisions made by their Ottawa and Halton offices.