In a murder trial in Milton, a psychiatrist testified that she had repeatedly advised two women in Burlington, Ont., to take a 12-year-old boy to the emergency room before his death in 2022, but they refused. Dr. Shelinderjit Dhaliwal stated that the boy’s health was deteriorating, and he was not eating properly.
Brandy Cooney and Becky Hamber, who were attempting to adopt the boy referred to as L.L., are facing charges of first-degree murder. Additionally, they are accused of confinement, assault with zip ties, and neglecting to provide for L.L.’s younger brother, J.L. The trial, conducted in the Superior Court with a judge only, commenced last month and is expected to continue until December.
L.L. was under Dhaliwal’s care from January 2022 until his passing in December of the same year. He was discovered by paramedics in a malnourished state on the floor of his basement bedroom, wet and unresponsive. Despite efforts, he did not survive his hospitalization.
The trial has revealed reports of L.L.’s extreme malnourishment, lack of growth, and the challenges faced by the women in caring for him. Dhaliwal recounted interactions with L.L., where he expressed struggles with emotions, and the women detailed his declining physical condition.
Despite Dhaliwal’s recommendations for immediate medical attention and attempts to arrange specialized care for L.L., the women declined, citing concerns about traumatizing the boy. The psychiatrist emphasized the urgency of hospital assessment, but the women postponed seeking medical help until it was too late.
In response to questioning during the trial, Dhaliwal defended her actions, stating that the hospital, not an eating disorder clinic, could have saved L.L.’s life. The psychiatrist highlighted her repeated urgings for the women to seek urgent medical intervention.
The testimony in the trial has shed light on the tragic circumstances leading to L.L.’s untimely death and the challenges faced by the individuals involved in his care.