Femicide of Chahinez Daoud: Mounir Boutaa Sentenced to Life Imprisonment

An act of extreme violence that shocked public opinion

On May 4, 2021, Mounir Boutaa, 48 years old, murdered his wife, Chahinez Daoud, 31 years old, by shooting her twice in the thighs before dousing her with gasoline and setting her on fire in front of their home in Mérignac, near Bordeaux. This extreme act of violence deeply shocked society. During his trial, the Gironde Assize Court sentenced the defendant to life imprisonment, with a 22-year minimum sentence, in line with the prosecution’s recommendations.

A defense based on psychological issues and personal suffering

During the trial, Mounir Boutaa expressed regret and stated that he had not intended to kill Chahinez, but to “scare her for life,” justifying his actions with unfounded suspicions of infidelity. His behavior was described as paranoid and manipulative, devoid of empathy. According to psychiatric experts, his discernment was impaired, but this did not lead to a reduction in his sentence, as the court deemed his “criminal dangerousness” warranted the maximum penalty.

Failures in the victim protection system

Chahinez’s relatives testified to the violence and constant control Mounir Boutaa exerted over her, as she lived in fear, and they emphasized that she had filed a complaint a month and a half before her murder in an attempt to protect herself. However, this complaint was improperly recorded by a police officer who had been convicted of domestic violence, highlighting failures in the victim protection system. This femicide reignited debates on the need to better protect women from domestic violence. Feminist activists protested throughout the trial, and the victim’s family has filed a legal action against the state for these failures.

A femicide emblematic of domestic violence

Mounir Boutaa was described by Chahinez Daoud’s lawyer as an “emblematic figure” of femicide perpetrators, while the defense emphasized his suffering, seeking to humanize the defendant despite the severity of his crime. The court reminded everyone that this tragedy, marked by unimaginable violence, will remain etched in the collective memory.