The Windsor justice system confronted a harrowing reality in 2025, as courtrooms became the stage for the tragic aftermath of intimate partner violence. Multiple cases, some ending in homicide, highlighted a pattern of jealousy, rage, and profound loss within the community. The names of four local women—Sahra Bulle, 36; Shermaine Carling, 33; Xaviere Miyamitoro, 38; and Lesley Watterworth, 42—were heard in proceedings over the past calendar year, their lives cut short by partners who were subsequently charged, tried, and convicted.
Convictions and Sentencing in High-Profile Cases
The legal process reached its conclusion in several of these devastating cases throughout the year. Brian Marbury, the estranged husband of Sahra Bulle, was convicted by a jury in October 2025 of first-degree murder for his 2023 crime. The jury deliberated for just hours following a lengthy trial. Marbury, now 47, faces an automatic life sentence with no chance of parole for 25 years. A sentencing hearing scheduled for early 2026 will allow family members to articulate the full impact of Bulle's loss. Bulle was last seen alive on May 26, 2023; her remains were later discovered in a wooded area.
In Leamington, David Montes, 41, pleaded guilty in April 2025 to the second-degree murder of Shermaine Carling. The killing occurred on September 29, 2022, in the rooming house bedroom the mother of two shared with Montes. A Windsor judge described the motive as "jealousy … particularly senseless" and sentenced Montes to life in prison with 12 years of parole ineligibility.
A Call for Improved Mental Health Interventions
Perhaps one of the most complex cases involved Ramadan Nizigiyimana, a recently arrived refugee who was under court orders to stay away from his wife, Xaviere Miyamitoro, due to a pending domestic assault charge. Shortly after being released from hospital following a mental health assessment, Nizigiyimana tracked down Miyamitoro at a private refugee community gathering on October 3, 2021, and stabbed the mother of five to death.
After pleading guilty to second-degree murder, he was sentenced in September 2025 to life in prison, with no chance of parole for 14 years. His defence lawyer, Patricia Brown, labeled the killing "the ultimate tragedy" and used the sentencing to advocate for stronger mental health supports in the local community. "A very sick individual was discharged from hospital and put back into the community and committed the very worst crime possible," Brown told the Windsor Star.
A Community's Ongoing Reckoning
The procession of these cases through Windsor's courts in 2025 served as a grim reminder of the fatal potential of intimate partner violence. While the justice system delivered convictions and imposed significant sentences, the underlying narratives pointed to familiar, toxic drivers: uncontrolled jealousy, rage, and in at least one instance, a catastrophic failure in mental health care continuity. The stories of Bulle, Carling, Miyamitoro, and Watterworth, now part of the legal record, underscore a persistent societal challenge that extends far beyond the courtroom doors. The call from legal professionals for enhanced community-based mental health resources highlights one critical area where intervention might prevent future tragedies.
