ðɪs ɹˈuːlɪŋ wʌz mˌeɪd bɪkˈʌz ðə kˈoːɹt bᵻlˈiːvd ʃˈɛɹən kˌʊdɐv lˈiːɡəli mˈæɹid mˈɛɹi bɹˈaʊn, bˌʌt dɪdnˈɑːt.
This ruling was made because the court believed Sheran could have legally married Mary Brown, but did not.