Sentencing hearing underway for Ontario couple guilty of boy's murder, brother's torture

Ontario couple up found shamefaced of boy's bump off, brother's torment

Critics call for change after death of Indigenous boy in foster care

Ontario's former child advocate says children's aid societies made 'bad decisions' leading up to death of boy

Hamber and Cooney just entered the courtroom with police escorts. 

They've been unhandcuffed and are seated in the same box.

I think this is the first time that's happened. Throughout the trial, they've been seated separately. Both have their own lawyers. 

Hamber's lawyers just spoke with both of them.

Including reporters, there are about 30 people in the courtroom right now, waiting for the proceedings to start. 

So far, my colleagues and I have heard that Sara Biasetti, J.L.'s Grade 2 teacher, will read a victim impact statement. 

We don't yet know who else might speak.

The statements are typically written by victims of crimes and their loved ones. Sometimes, the people who write them read them aloud in what often amounts to a very emotional experience for those in the courtroom.

Multiple observers have said this case raises concerns about the child protection system and has showcased systemic issues that need to be addressed immediately.

They say it also highlights systemic failures seen across Canada. 

Saevil is with a Hamilton-area Indigenous advocacy group Circle of Beads. Its members were the first to publicly call for accountability after regional police laid murder charges in 2024 against Cooney and Hamber.

"My heart sank for that little guy,” Saevil said about the older boy, L.L.

Saevil said she was frustrated with the children's aid societies responsible for overseeing the boys' care, accusing them of "not intervening [and] not supervising appropriately." 

Ultimately, Conlan said the case was "not a close call."

Hamber and Cooney "hated the boys," the judge wrote in his decisions. They "deeply resented them having come into their lives and not having turned out to be what was expected."

Ultimately, Conlan wrote he depended largely on text messages between Cooney, Hamber and Cooney's father (who lived with the couple), J.L.'s testimony, evidence of medical professionals who treated L.L., the post-mortem findings and the opinions of two expert witnesses, and testimony by Hamber and Cooney.

"I believe J.," the judge wrote.

In contrast, he listed and picked apart nearly 90 pieces of testimony by the couple, saying some of it was "nonsensical" and other aspects made "no sense."

I'm Justin Chandler and have been covering the trial since October.

I'm at the Milton courthouse, where about a dozen people are waiting to enter to hear the couple’s fate. 

Trial proceedings were held over seven months and dozens of witnesses testified.

They included social service workers, health professionals, educators and police. Hamber, Cooney and J.L., now 14, testified over multiple days. 

Evidence included thousands of the couple's deleted text messages that police accessed, hours of audio recordings and hundreds of images, including from security cameras that Cooney and Hamber used to surveil the boys.

Conlan described the trial as "lengthy and difficult."

The murder trial for Brandy Cooney, 45, and Becky Hamber, 47, who are from Burlington and pleaded not guilty to all charges, began in mid-September 2025 in Milton.

Only initials — L.L. And J.L. — are being used for the Indigenous boys, whose identities are protected under a standard publication ban.

L.L. Was 12 when he died after he was found wet and malnourished in the basement of the family home. Justice Clayton Conlan found the couple guilty of murdering him and torturing and confining J.L., his younger brother.

L.L. Was from the Ottawa area but had lived with Hamber, Cooney and J.L. Since 2017. The couple had been aiming to adopt the boys.

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