Defence in Ontario couple's murder trial suggests boy they were trying to adopt made up testimony for money | CBC News

"Kim Edward, who represents one of the women, Brandy Cooney, suggested to the boy that he tells the story of whoever is in charge of his care. You tell them the story you think they want to hear so you feel safe and protected, she said, and suggested he fabricated allegations against Cooney and Becky Hamber to please his current caregivers. That's not true, the boy, J.L., said. J.L., as he's referred to for CBC's coverage of this trial since the boys' identities are protected under a standard publication ban, is now 13. His brother, L.L., was 12 when he died on Dec. 21, 2022. J.L. testified over two days in mid-November."

"The trial heard recordings of the couple taunting him and saw images of cuts on his feet, which J.L. said were from the women tying him into a wetsuit. J.L. said that near the end of his time with them, the women would force him to wear a wetsuit at all times, confine him to his room for hours and only feed him pureed food. Hamber and Cooney have pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the trial that began in mid-September in Superior Court of Ontario in Milton."

"Hamber and Cooney have pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the trial that began in mid-September in Superior Court of Ontario in Milton. They've entered the same plea related to charges of confinement, assault with a weapon zip ties and failing to provide the necessaries of life to J.L. The Crown argues Hamber and Cooney abused and neglected the Indigenous children."

A 13-year-old testified that two Burlington women confined him, forced him to wear a wetsuit constantly, tied him into the suit causing cuts, restricted him to his room for hours, and fed him only pureed food. Defence counsel suggested he fabricated allegations to please current caregivers and questioned his credibility. The deceased brother, 12 at death on Dec. 21, 2022, was found unresponsive, soaking wet on a locked basement floor and described as severely malnourished and emaciated. The women face first-degree murder and related charges including confinement, assault with zip ties, and failing to provide necessaries of life.

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