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A woman at the Marlborough Hotel claims to be facing charges after sharing a video of herself tying a tie

Gail Bradburn, 19, says she wants justice and charges against the people who tied her up at Winnipeg's Marlborough Hotel in December 2023, saying she never threatened staff and feared for her health. Morgan Modjeski reports.

A young woman who was chained and tortured to death in a Winnipeg hotel on Christmas Day is sharing her side of the story that has sparked outrage and accusations.

Gail Bradburn, 19, says she never threatened staff at the Marlborough Hotel. He wants the downtown Winnipeg business closed while the men on the video are criminally investigated and charged.

Background: Controversy after Indigenous woman arrested in Winnipeg hotel lobby; the manager says he is brandishing a knife

Bradburn confirmed she was the woman in the video that went viral on social media last month. She is sure that she passed out before being woken up by a group of men holding her down in the hotel restaurant.

“All of a sudden I'm out of it and I'm hooked,” he told CityNews.

“What happened to me?” A lot was going through my head. Why like me? Why did they want me? I was scared. I was scared when it happened.”

Gail Bradburn, a 19-year-old woman who was chained and tortured to death at Winnipeg's Marlborough Hotel on Christmas Day 2023, is speaking to CityNews. (CityNews)

Bradburn is visibly distressed and shaking in the video as he tries to leave the hotel. But a man is seen blocking the entrance.

“Lock the door,” a man's voice is heard from the camera.

“He's trying to run,” says another. “He is running handcuffed. He's in the lobby.”

WATCH: Woman arrested in Marlborough hotel lobby (warning: video contains graphic language, disturbing content)

Bradburn believes he would have “walked away” if the incident hadn't been caught on camera by a bystander. Near the end of the three-minute video, the men ask bystanders to leave the property.

The footage was condemned by many local organizations. A A rally was held in the lobby Marlborough January 21.

A January 21, 2024 rally in the lobby of the Marlborough Hotel in Winnipeg, where a local woman was arrested four weeks ago after being stabbed. (Kurt Black, CityNews)

Bradburn is glad the video went public and people are upset about what happened to him, and thinks it's wrong that he's being prosecuted.

“It should be them, not me,” he said. “I didn't even do anything.”

CityNews tried to contact the hotel management several times but they refused as the matter is currently under investigation.

The hotel's general manager told CityNews last month that the woman's hands were bound with “wrist restraints” as she threatened guests and staff with a knife while drunk.

“Our intention was to keep this young woman from harming herself or others until WPS arrived,” the hotel manager said.

Winnipeg police charged Bradburn with assault with a weapon the day of the incident.

“How was I supposed to get the knife out when I zipped it up?”

The 19-year-old believes she misled the public about what happened by admitting she never threatened anyone at the hotel when she had the pocket knife.

“They took it out of my pocket,” he said. “They took everything in my pocket. They emptied my pocket… How was I supposed to get the knife out when I zipped it up?'

Bradburn said he plans to press charges in court and will seek legal advice on the matter in general. He also plans to take legal action against the men in the video and the Marlborough Hotel itself.

She says she was devastated after the incident and turned to alcohol to cope with the experience.

“Hopefully something will change,” he said.

Winnipeg Police spokeswoman Dani MacKinnon confirmed Tuesday that police are still investigating the incident.

“The police started an investigation as soon as they reached the scene,” he said.

McKinnon says that when WPS officers took a statement from Bradburn, he would have to do so if he wanted more information.

“If he wants to present alternative details or his version of events, he may have another opportunity to do so, but he has to,” MacKinnon explained.

The doors of the Marlborough Hotel remained locked on Tuesday.

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