Trial Opens for Mounir Boutaa in Chahinez Daoud's Murder, Highlighting Systemic Failures

The case of Chahinez Daoud, murdered by her estranged husband in 2021, underscores critical lapses in France's domestic violence prevention systems.

Mounir Boutaa faces charges of premeditated murder for killing his ex-wife, Chahinez Daoud, by shooting her and burning her alive in Mérignac, France, in May 2021.
Daoud had filed multiple complaints against Boutaa and warned authorities of the danger he posed, but systemic failures left her unprotected.
The murder revealed severe negligence within the police and judicial systems, leading to disciplinary actions against five officers and reforms in domestic violence protocols.
Chahinez Daoud’s family has initiated a civil lawsuit against the French state, citing gross negligence in failing to prevent her death despite clear warning signs.
The trial also examines Boutaa’s mental state, with psychiatric experts concluding his discernment was impaired but not abolished at the time of the crime.