Overview

• Mounir Boutaa is accused of fatally shooting and setting his estranged wife, Chahinez Daoud, on fire in May 2021 in Mérignac, France.
• The prosecution has requested a life sentence with a 22-year minimum, citing premeditation and the severity of the crime as reasons to reject leniency.
• The trial has revealed systemic failures, including mishandled police complaints and inadequate protections for Daoud, despite her repeated warnings and fear for her life.
• Expert testimony described Boutaa as paranoid and narcissistic, with an altered mental state, but concluded he remains criminally responsible for his actions.
• This case has become a symbol of France's struggle with rising femicide rates and has prompted feminist protests and calls for systemic reforms to address domestic violence.