What to know about the couple’s sentencing hearing on Friday
Ten months after Becky Hamber’s and Brandy Cooney’s murder trial began, the focus at their sentencing hearing today was on the young brothers in their care who suffered abuse over a number of years.
The Burlington, Ont., couple were given life in prison with no chance of parole for at least 25 years, which is the automatic sentence for a first-degree murder conviction.
Sentencing “is the end of this case, but not the ending of the memory of L.L. and only the beginning of J.L.’s life,” Justice Clayton Conlan stressed in Milton Superior Court.
Conlan found the pair guilty in May of murdering L.L., who was 12 when he died after being found emaciated in the basement of the couple’s home in 2022. Hamber and Cooney were also convicted of assaulting, confining and failing to provide the necessaries of life to the younger brother, and were sentenced to several years each, to be served concurrent with the life term.
Today’s sentencing hearing began with victim impact statements.
Prominent speakers included J.L., the boys’ biological mother and the brothers’ former foster mother.
Now 14, J.L. told the court about how much he missed his big brother. Later, he said he was anxious and scared to be in court, including having to face Hamber and Cooney, but said, “It’s good they got what they deserved.”
He also spoke of his goal of becoming a lawyer, saying he likes arguing and thinks accused people deserve representation because they aren’t all guilty.
Conlan also heard from firefighters still dealing with the trauma of responding to L.L.’s death, teachers and neighbours wondering if they could have done more and family members grieving a boy who will never grow into adulthood.
Hamber and Cooney were allowed to speak as well.
Both maintained their innocence and said justice wasn’t served. Cooney read a poem she wrote from the perspective of L.L., drawing disgusted looks and scoffs from members of the gallery.
Hamber’s lawyer, Monte MacGregor, who months ago grilled J.L. as he testified, turned to address the boy at the sentencing hearing.
“I am hopeful and confident that you will flourish going forward,” the lawyer said.