Witnesses giving testimony in the trial of a man from Michigan accused of killing his estranged wife reported hearing sounds of a distressed woman coming from the motel room beneath the accused individual. Brian Marbury faces charges of first-degree murder in connection with the death of Sahra Bulle from Windsor.
A married couple, Serah Hamid and Michael Scanlon, who were in the U.K. at the time, testified that they were staying in the room below Marbury at the Bestway Motel on the night of May 26, 2023, which was the last night Bulle was seen alive, about three weeks before her remains were discovered.
Marbury has admitted to causing indignity to a human body but denies the charge of first-degree murder. The trial commenced in Superior Court with Justice Ian Leach presiding.
Both Hamid and Scanlon recalled hearing noises from the room above them that night, though their recollections varied. They testified separately, forbidden to communicate with each other during their testimonies, and were in separate rooms during proceedings. Hamid had a Swahili interpreter present in the courtroom.
Hamid mentioned hearing a soft voice repeatedly saying phrases like “stop it” and “you’re hurting me,” prompting her to seek the motel manager’s assistance. On the other hand, Scanlon described hearing a woman screaming in pain along with a man’s shouting, indicating a violent altercation.
During cross-examination, defense lawyer Kenneth Marley challenged Hamid’s account, suggesting she was merely annoyed by the noise and not genuinely concerned for anyone’s safety. Marley questioned why they sought help from the motel manager instead of the police if they believed a woman was in danger.
Both Hamid and Scanlon defended their actions, stating they trusted the manager to assess the situation and decide whether to involve law enforcement. After the manager intervened, the noises ceased, and the couple went to sleep without further incident.
The trial is set to resume with additional witnesses and is expected to continue until mid-October.
