An Ontario judge will hand down his decision this morning in the trial for a couple charged in the death of a 12-year-old boy and alleged torture of his younger brother while the children were in their care.

The murder trial for Brandy Cooney, 44, and Becky Hamber, 46, who are from Burlington and have pleaded not guilty to all charges, began in mid-September in Milton.

Only initials — L.L. and J.L. — are being used for the Indigenous boys, whose identities are protected under a standard publication ban.

L.L., the older boy, was 12 when he died after he was found wet and malnourished in the basement of the family home. The Crown has also accused the couple of torturing and confining J.L.

L.L. was from the Ottawa area but had lived with Hamber, Cooney and J.L. since 2017. The couple had been aiming to adopt the boys.