An Ontario court has heard that the Children’s Aid Society (CAS) received multiple reports concerning the welfare of a 12-year-old boy before his death in December 2022. The boy, referred to in court as L.L., was found unresponsive in the Burlington home of his prospective adoptive parents, Brandy Cooney and Becky Hamber. He died shortly after being taken to the hospital. The women are currently on trial, facing charges of first-degree murder, confinement, assault with a weapon, and failing to provide the necessities of life to L.L.'s younger brother, J.L. Both women have pleaded not guilty.

The trial, which began last month in Milton, is expected to continue into December. The court has not yet heard testimony from CAS representatives regarding their actions in the case, although the agency is not on trial. The boys, who are Indigenous, were wards of the CAS of Ottawa before being placed with Cooney and Hamber in 2017. Reports indicate that the boys' grandmother opposed the adoption process but ultimately lost her legal battle.

During their time with Cooney and Hamber, L.L. and J.L. were under the supervision of Halton CAS. The women never completed the adoption process. Erin Nolan, a therapist who worked with the boys, testified that the CAS had concerns about how Cooney and Hamber responded to allegations made by the children. Nolan noted that the women did not collaborate effectively with service providers and tended to view the boys as psychologically unhealthy.

The Crown has argued that Cooney and Hamber struggled to care for the boys and subjected them to neglect and abuse. Crown attorney Kelli Frew stated that the women relied on financial subsidies from government adoption programs. In contrast, the defense has claimed that the women were doing their best under challenging circumstances and lacked adequate support from the CAS.

Witnesses, including teachers and therapists, have expressed serious concerns about the boys' living conditions and treatment. Attachment therapist Beth Sibley reported that L.L. had been punished excessively, including being isolated in his room. A police report from 2019 indicated that a neighbor had called authorities after hearing one of the boys crying for an extended period. Although the police found no immediate risk, they noted that the boys were having difficulty adjusting to their new home.

J.L.'s Grade 2 teacher, Sara Biasetti, testified that she contacted the CAS multiple times due to alarming behaviors exhibited by J.L., including self-harm. Biasetti described her growing concern for J.L. as he revealed distressing details about his home life. She reported that the boys were controlled in their eating habits, with staff at school instructed to monitor their meals closely.

L.L.'s Grade 4 teacher, Sara Ferraro, echoed these concerns, stating that she felt immense guilt over the situation. She described L.L. as an eager student who was not allowed to participate in various school activities. Both teachers collaborated to document their concerns for the CAS, but the boys' situation did not improve.

The trial continues as the court examines the circumstances surrounding L.L.'s tragic death and the role of the CAS in the boys' lives leading up to that event.