In a murder trial in Milton, the psychiatrist of a 12-year-old boy, under the care of two women in Burlington, Ontario, testified that she had advised the couple to take the boy to the emergency room several times before his death in 2022, but they declined. Dr. Shelinderjit Dhaliwal revealed that the boy’s health was deteriorating, and he was not consuming food.
The accused, Brandy Cooney and Becky Hamber, face charges of first-degree murder and other offenses related to the care of the boy and his younger brother, known as J.L. The trial, taking place in Superior Court, commenced last month and is anticipated to extend into December.
The boys, who were wards of the Children’s Aid Society (CAS) of Ottawa, were relocated to Burlington in 2017 to live with Cooney and Hamber, who were attempting to adopt them. Throughout the trial, various medical professionals have provided insights into the boys’ conditions and the interactions with the accused.
Tragically, the boy, identified as L.L., was found unresponsive in his basement room and later pronounced dead in the hospital. The pathologist could not definitively determine the cause of death but highlighted the possibility of malnutrition or hypothermia as contributing factors.
Dhaliwal, who had been treating L.L., expressed that she had urged the caregivers to seek immediate medical assistance for the boy due to his declining health. Despite her recommendations for hospital evaluation and specialized care, the caregivers reportedly hesitated, citing concerns about the traumatic experience for the boy.
The psychiatrist detailed her efforts to initiate the process for L.L. to receive treatment at an eating disorder clinic, emphasizing the importance of timely medical intervention. However, the caregivers allegedly postponed seeking medical help until it was too late.
The trial continues to uncover details surrounding the tragic circumstances leading to the boy’s death, shedding light on the challenges faced by vulnerable children in the child welfare system.