WARNING: This article contains information on accusations of child maltreatment.
Becky Hamber, in messages to her spouse, identified herself as “Officer Hamber” and described one of the boys under their care as being incarcerated in “Hamber Cooney prison.”
These texts, dated November 14, 2021, were presented during the first-degree murder trial of the women in Milton, Ontario.
This was not the first instance where the duo referred to themselves as the caretakers of the two brothers they sought to adopt. In December 2020, Cooney also mentioned her father, who resided with them and the brothers, as “Officer Cooney.”
The siblings, identified as L.L. and J.L. for anonymity in CBC’s reporting, were Indigenous children. L.L., who was 12 when he died on December 21, 2022, was in the custody of Hamber and Cooney. His younger brother, J.L., is now 13 years old.
Both women from Burlington, Ontario, have pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder concerning L.L.’s demise. The charges also include confinement, assault using zip ties, and failure to provide essential care to J.L. The prosecution asserts that Hamber and Cooney mistreated and neglected the children.
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During the trial, Crown counsel Monica MacKenzie presented additional audio recordings and multiple sets of text messages retrieved from the women’s devices.
Sgt. Julie Powers of the Halton Regional Police Service testified for the second consecutive day. She mentioned that data extracted from the couple’s phones and iPads, following their detention in February 2024, included recordings taken by the women or saved from a security camera system used to monitor the boys.
Women Discuss Limiting Boys’ Freedom as a Behavioral Consequence
In an 80-minute recording played by MacKenzie, the women reprimanded L.L., the elder boy, for his hygiene issues. They indicated that he was not permitted certain privileges due to his actions and had his bedroom furniture removed.
Medical personnel discovered L.L. in an unresponsive state, drenched and secluded in the basement, where he eventually passed away. Despite being 12 years old, he appeared severely malnourished and emaciated, resembling a much younger child.
Their defense attorneys argue that the women diligently cared for the children, who had complex needs and challenging behaviors, with insufficient support from social services. They contend that measures like confinement and using zip-ties were necessary to prevent harm.
The trial presided over by Justice Clayton Conlan has involved testimonies from various witnesses