One man has been convicted of first-degree murder, while another has been cleared of all charges in the case involving the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old girl in Montreal back in 2021.
Salim Touaibi, aged 29, confessed during the trial to being the individual who fired the shots during the incident. He was found guilty of first-degree murder in the killing of Meriem Boundaoui and also convicted on four counts of attempted murder.
On the other hand, Aymane Bouadi, aged 30, was acquitted of all charges. The jury ruled Bouadi not guilty of first-degree murder and the four counts of attempted murder. Following the verdict, Bouadi left the Montreal courthouse and was reunited with his family, according to his lawyer.
The trial in Quebec Superior Court revealed that Boundaoui was an innocent victim caught in a feud between two family-owned businesses over parking spaces. The dispute involved a barbershop on Jean-Talon Street and a grocery store across the street. Tensions escalated as the grocery store owners were unhappy with barbershop clients using the market’s parking lot.
Touaibi admitted to being the shooter but claimed he was unaware of Boundaoui’s presence in the vehicle when he fired at it. He acknowledged the business conflict but insisted his involvement was merely an attempt to mediate.
Meanwhile, Bouadi’s defense argued that he was a passive passenger in the car and was not actively involved in the conflict. Bouadi’s lawyer expressed relief at the verdict, stating his client’s enduring faith in the justice system.
The two men were arrested by Montreal police in June 2022 and their trial began in mid-January. The Crown prosecutors involved in the case declined to provide any comments following the verdict.
A conviction for first-degree murder under Canadian law carries an automatic life sentence with no chance of parole for 25 years. Touaibi’s sentencing on the attempted murder charges will be determined by the judge in a court session scheduled for April 2.
The tragic death of the high school student in 2021 led to renewed calls to combat gun violence. In response, Montreal authorities and the police chief announced the establishment of a specialized police unit targeting gun trafficking following the teenager’s death and that of two other youths the same year.