WARNING: This article contains allegations related to child abuse.
An examination conducted by a forensic pathologist revealed that the cause of death of a 12-year-old under the care of two women from Burlington, Ontario, could not be conclusively determined.
Dr. Michael Pickup, the deputy chief forensic pathologist for Ontario, mentioned that potential causes of death, such as hypothermia or cardiac arrest due to severe malnourishment, could not be ruled out based on the autopsy findings.
During the trial of Brandy Cooney and Becky Hamber, who are facing charges of first-degree murder and other offenses in connection with the boy’s death, it was disclosed that the two women were in the process of adopting the 12-year-old, identified as L.L., at the time of his passing in 2022. The identities of L.L. and his younger brother, J.L., are protected by a publication ban.
Additionally, Cooney and Hamber are accused of confinement, assault using zip ties, and neglecting to provide necessary care for J.L.
The trial, presided over by Justice Clayton Conlan in Milton, commenced last month and is anticipated to extend into November.
Autopsy Findings Unveiled
Crown attorney Monica MacKenzie instructed Pickup to meticulously review his autopsy report on L.L. and elaborate on his discoveries.
The examination did not reveal any significant injuries or abnormalities on L.L.’s body. It was found that L.L. had ingested 11 pills identified as Venlafaxine, a medication prescribed to him for various mental health conditions.
According to Pickup, the concentration of the medication in L.L.’s system was elevated but not at a lethally toxic level. Given L.L.’s emaciated state, malnutrition was highlighted as a probable contributing factor to his demise.
Testimonies from a child nutrition expert during the trial indicated that L.L. was severely malnourished before his death, weighing only 48 pounds, much less than his weight at a younger age.
Pickup acknowledged the challenges in definitively attributing malnutrition as the cause of death, emphasizing the complexities in measuring certain blood components when the heart ceases to function.
Furthermore, Pickup explained that identifying acute starvation as the cause of death necessitates the presence of specific indicators, such as high levels of ketones, which were not detected in L.L.’s body.
Hypothermia as a Probable Factor
MacKenzie inquired about potential causes of death, including hypothermia, drowning, and smothering, emphasizing the need for more information on the circumstances surrounding the incident to make a conclusive determination.
Addressing a hypothetical scenario presented by MacKenzie mirroring the prosecution’s case narrative, Pickup acknowledged that hypothermia could have played a role in the boy’s demise under certain conditions.
According to reports, emergency responders found L.L. in a basement bedroom on a night in December 2022, soaked in an unidentified liquid and wearing a wet wetsuit.
Subsequent discussions during the trial focused on the possibility of hypothermia and the peculiar circumstances in which L.L. was discovered, with varying perspectives presented by the defense.
While uncertainties persist regarding the exact cause of death, the trial continues to delve into the intricate details of this harrowing case.
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