In a Milton, Ontario, courtroom, Becky Hamber stated she is not responsible for the death of a child in her care. This assertion was made during a trial where she and her wife, Brandy Cooney, face serious charges, including first-degree murder. The court heard details from a note Hamber wrote six months after the death of the 12-year-old boy, who lived with the couple in Burlington, Ontario. Hamber attributed the child's death to decisions made by the Children’s Aid Society (CAS) and an alleged eating disorder.

The note was presented in court alongside other communications between Hamber and Cooney, which were uncovered during an investigation led by Halton police Sgt. Julie Powers. Powers concluded her testimony on Friday, marking the end of the Crown's case against the two women. They are also charged with confinement, assault with a weapon, and failing to provide the necessaries of life concerning the boy's younger brother. Both women have pleaded not guilty.

The deceased child, referred to as L.L., died on December 21, 2022. His brother, J.L., is now 13 years old. Hamber and Cooney were first arrested on January 17, 2023, related to charges concerning J.L., and were later arrested again on February 29, 2024, for L.L.’s alleged murder. Their trial began in mid-September in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.

During the proceedings, the court reviewed a video statement Hamber made to police after her arrest. In this video, she denied several allegations against her and Cooney and claimed that J.L. was dishonest. Hamber expressed her struggles and the trauma of L.L.’s death in a note dated June 14, 2023, which was intended for a group therapy session. In the note, she stated that she and Cooney were not responsible for L.L.'s death but were instead the reasons he survived as long as he did. Hamber criticized the CAS for what she described as their failures, such as ignoring eating disorders due to a child's age.

Hamber also mentioned that L.L. had not recovered from trauma experienced with his biological family. She described his alleged eating disorder, characterized as binge-eating that evolved into rumination, as the physical cause of his death. In her note, she expressed deep sorrow, stating she missed L.L. and would do anything to hug him again.

The court also viewed videos recorded by Hamber between May and October 2023, where she discussed her daily struggles and her thoughts about L.L. and J.L. In one video, she referred to their family as a “happy family” despite the challenges they faced. However, she denied allegations of restraining J.L. and suggested he was confusing memories with a previous foster family.

Hamber's defense attorney questioned the validity of evidence presented, including a video where Hamber was accused of withholding food from L.L. The attorney suggested that what was perceived as a blueberry could have been something else entirely.

The trial has revealed troubling text messages exchanged between Hamber and Cooney, where they referred to L.L. in derogatory terms and discussed violent thoughts regarding the boys. The court also examined their internet search history, which included disturbing queries made shortly before and after L.L.'s death.

The questioning of Sgt. Powers concluded on Friday, and the defense is set to begin calling witnesses on Monday. The trial is expected to continue until at least mid-January.