Ontario mother of alleged femicide victim makes her daughter's voice heard

This year alone, watchdogs say 23 women have been murdered in Ontario, as anti-violence advocates across the country push governments to declare domestic violence an epidemic.

Each number represents a mother, a sister, a daughter and a friend. This includes Sahra Bulle, who was murdered a year ago in Windsor.

Her mother, Fartumo Kusow, is working to ensure her late daughter's voice is heard.

“She was so broken, chipped, feeling like no one else would love her,” Kusow said.

Bulle was just 18 years old when she met the man who is now accused of her murder. Her mother knew almost immediately that something was seriously wrong.

“They had been seeing each other for six weeks and I saw this bruise on his thigh. I said, “What is that?” and she said, 'He hit her,' and I said, 'It's not a movie.'

Bulle eventually married this boyfriend and they stayed together for 18 years. However, his mother said the signs of abuse were constant.

“His whole body was covered in bruises and we told him, ‘you can’t go back’.” But she kept coming back, even though she repeatedly tried to leave.

“She was bruised and beaten and she was too embarrassed and she would only come home and contact us when she could put on enough makeup and cover up,” Kusow said. “It just got worse and worse… it’s such a predictable and avoidable loss.”

Bulle suffered a broken jaw, broken ribs and countless hospital visits. Her mother tried several times to get help.

“I had to make hundreds of calls and emails, trying to figure out what needed to be done, what support she could access,” Kusow said.

“She was suffering in silence, I knew that, we all knew that she wouldn't call the police, that she wouldn't press charges because she was ashamed of it.”

Bulle tried to leave 11 times, Kusow said, explaining that a year ago there was hope. She said Bulle was determined to leave; she changed jobs and moved to a shelter. She couldn't live with his family because he knew where they lived.

“She called me a little after 6 p.m. on Friday, May 26, everything was fine,” Kusow said, adding that she remembers the last words her daughter said that evening. “I love you mom, see you Monday.”

However, that Monday never came. Sahra disappeared this Friday evening, less than three weeks after moving into the shelter.

His body was found 12 days later.

“She was killed by inches,” Kusow said. “For 18 years, this was just the culminating act of all those who eroded his confidence, his dignity and his freedom.”

Kusow now has questions that will haunt her forever. “What could I have said to convince her to stay out?” » said his mother. “His only crime was loving him. And she was loyal to a fault.

Experts say a woman is at greatest risk when trying to leave an abusive relationship.

Bulle's husband was charged with first-degree murder. His case is before the courts.

In the second part of this series, CityNews will explore the alarming rise in femicide and domestic violence.