With no signs of growth for nine months, it's safe to assume that the tree is dead. The skeletal remains don't look much like a weeping birch, but it does seem to be some birch variety, going by the bark. Brutal as this pruning may have been, it's unlikely that it was solely responsible - or responsible at all - for the tree's demise.

Is the climate good for a birch? It's looking hot and arid and that is generally not what a birch need

B. pendula 'Laciniata' is a feature of watered properties in the inter-mountain West, where it actually does much better than here on the Pacific Slope.

thank you for the responses.

we live in (coastal) southern california, it was warm today! but the weather has been really wonky this past year- hot in january, cold in may, so I don't think this has helped. the tree was here when we moved in and I'm not sure when it was planted- but it had been doing well the past two years.

so even the growth of the little twigs isn't a good sign?

It wouldn't have grown new twigs without having leaves. No leaves in June = apparently dead. And anyway you can't cut much on a birch without causing damage to the branches that they aren't very good about overcoming.