A man accused of murdering young Meriem Boundaoui in Montreal two years ago wants to be released pending trial. However, Aymane Bouadi’s hearing was delayed by another “service disruption” at the Montreal courthouse on Thursday.
Posted at 11:18 am
The violent death of Meriem Boundaoui shook Quebec in February 2021. The 15-year-old girl was shot dead in a parked car in the Saint-Léonard neighborhood. Originally from Algeria, she had come to Quebec to study.
Aymane Bouadi, who has been in prison since last June, hopes to regain his freedom during the trial. The 27-year-old Montrealer is charged with first-degree murder and four counts of attempted murder. His co-defendant Salim Touaibi is unaffected by this request and remains in detention.
A trial date has not yet been set. The process, which promises to be complicated, is unlikely to happen until 2024. Note that the bar is set high for the provisional release of a person accused of first-degree murder.
A publicity ban prohibits us from releasing details of the application and the evidence presented during the bail hearing. Me Martin Latour and Me Marylie Côté defend Aymane Bouadi. Me Simon Lapierre represents the Public Ministry.
The first day of hearings began Thursday with a delay symptomatic of the severe staffing shortages affecting the justice system. In fact, the defendant was not taken away by the correctional officers as planned in the morning. “We have no staff to bring him. It’s out of my control,” an officer told Judge Eric Downs.
“This is a situation that can be described as a service disruption,” the judge said, adding that he would write to the detention officer.
La Presse revealed on Thursday that co-defendant Salim Touaibi was arrested with a handgun at a Griffintown restaurant two years before the death of Meriem Boundaoui. “I don’t go without my leash!” ‘ the young man started, desperately looking for his gun while the police were in the restaurant.
In this case, Salim Touaibi, aka Aviatar, was found guilty of various firearms-related charges and sentenced to several months in prison.