A forensic pathologist testified at a trial in Milton, Ontario, that the cause of death of a 12-year-old boy, known as L.L., was undetermined following an autopsy. Dr. Michael Pickup, Ontario’s deputy chief forensic pathologist, mentioned that potential causes of death could include hypothermia or cardiac arrest due to severe malnourishment. The boy was under the care of Brandy Cooney and Becky Hamber, who are facing charges including first-degree murder, confinement, assault with a weapon, and failure to provide basic necessities to L.L.’s younger brother, J.L.
During the trial, Pickup revealed that the autopsy did not show any significant injuries or abnormalities on L.L.’s body. Tests indicated that L.L. had ingested Venlafaxine, a medication prescribed to him, at higher-than-normal concentrations but not at a fatal level. The pathologist highlighted malnutrition as a probable factor in L.L.’s death, considering his thin and undernourished condition.
MacKenzie, the Crown attorney, questioned Pickup about various potential causes of death, including hypothermia, drowning, and smothering. When presented with a hypothetical scenario resembling the prosecution’s narrative, Pickup acknowledged that hypothermia could have played a role in the boy’s death. The trial also revealed that L.L. was found wet and in a puddle in a basement bedroom, wearing a soaked wetsuit, raising questions about possible contributing factors to his demise.
The defense sought clarification from Pickup regarding hypothermia and the circumstances surrounding L.L.’s discovery. Despite uncertainties surrounding the case, Pickup’s testimony shed light on the complexities of determining the exact cause of the tragic death of the young boy.
