WARNING: This story details allegations of child abuse.

In messages to her wife, Becky Hamber referred to herself as “Officer Hamber” and said one of the boys in her and Brandy Cooney’s care was “in Hamber Cooney prison.”

Those texts from Nov. 14, 2021, were one set of many shown at the women’s first-degree murder trial Tuesday in the Milton, Ont., court.

That was at least the second time, the women referred to themselves as jailers of two brothers they were trying to adopt, with Cooney referring to her father — who also lived with them and the brothers — as “Officer Cooney” in December 2020.

The brothers are referred to as L.L. and J.L. for CBC's coverage of this trial since their identities are protected under a standard publication ban. L.L. was 12 when he died in Hamber and Cooney

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