A Quebec Superior Court judge has sentenced a Montreal man to two life sentences for his role in the 2021 drive-by killing of 15-year-old Meriem Boundaoui. Justice Yvan Poulin stated the "extraordinary brutality" of the crime, which claimed the life of an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire of a family business dispute.
Salim Touaibi was convicted of first-degree murder and the attempted murder of four individuals. He will not be eligible for parole for 25 years. The judge highlighted the profound pain inflicted on Boundaoui's family and the lasting trauma on the attempted murder victims, one of whom lost a promising tennis career due to his injuries.
The court heard Touaibi was seeking revenge but mistakenly targeted Boundaoui. His defense that he did not realize anyone was in the vehicle was not believed by the jury. Touaibi's criminal history, including weapons offenses and being on probation at the time of the crime, contributed to the harsh sentence. The incident prompted increased measures to combat gun violence in Montreal.