During the closing arguments in a Montreal murder trial, defense lawyer Martin Latour claimed that his client Aymane Bouadi had no active role in the shooting that killed 15-year-old Meriem Boundaoui. Latour described Bouadi as a passenger in a rental car driven by his friend on the night of the incident, highlighting that he was merely seeking food when violence erupted. He emphasized that Bouadi was in a state of panic after witnessing the shooting, challenging the idea that he was complicit in the crimes.

The tragedy occurred on February 7, 2021, when Boundaoui was a passenger in a car that was shot at while in Montreal's St-Léonard borough. Both Bouadi and his co-defendant Salim Touaibi face serious charges, including first-degree murder and attempted murder, concerning the incident. While Touaibi has confessed to being the shooter, he maintained that he was unaware of Boundaoui's presence in the opposing vehicle at the time of the attack, which complicates the prosecution's case against Bouadi, who was arguing that he should not share culpability.

This case brings to light issues of gang violence and youth safety in urban environments, as the fatal shooting of a young girl raises concerns in the community. As the jury deliberates on the charges against Bouadi and Touaibi, the broader implications concerning juvenile engagement with crime and the justice system's treatment of such cases will likely be a provocative point of discussion in Montreal and beyond.