A makeshift memorial is shown during a vigil and protest against gun violence in memory of Meriem Boundaoui in Montreal, Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021. Boundaoui died in a drive-by shooting last weekend. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

By The Canadian Press

Teen drive-by shooting trial: lawyer for second defendant seeks acquittal

Mar 12, 2026 | 11:22 AM

MONTREAL — The lawyer for one of the men charged in the drive-by shooting of a 15-year-old girl in Montreal told a jury on Thursday his client was only a “passive” presence on the night of her death.

Martin Latour said during closing arguments that his client Aymane Bouadi was riding along in a rental car driven by his friend when Meriem Boundaoui was killed on Feb. 7, 2021.

“There is not one iota of evidence that Aymane Bouadi knew there was a gun in the car. It doesn’t exist,” said Latour, who added that his client has no criminal record.

The court has heard that Boundaoui was sitting in the passenger seat of a Volkswagen Jetta in Montreal’s St-Léonard borough when a white Mercedes with two men inside pulled up and someone opened fire, killing her.

Both Bouadi and his co-accused, Salim Touaibi, are charged with first-degree murder in her death, as well as attempted murder of several people standing nearby.

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Touaibi has said he was the shooter, but testified he didn’t realize Boundaoui or anyone else was in the Jetta when he shot at it. His lawyer suggested to the jury earlier this week that he should be convicted of manslaughter rather than murder.

Latour said Bouadi had only gone with his friend to get food, and was in a “total panic” after Touaibi pulled out a gun and shot past his head out the passenger side window.

The Crown has suggested in Superior Court that Boundaoui was caught in the crossfire of a dispute between two family-owned businesses that did not involve her, and that originated in arguments over parking spots.

Latour said Thursday his client was not part of the conflict between families. Bouadi, he said, had been inside a restaurant with Touaibi picking up sandwiches when Touaibi called someone involved in the dispute. The lawyer said his client wasn’t clear on why Touaibi then drove over to the site where the shooting would occur.

Latour also sought to address testimony of witnesses who told the court they thought the gunfire had come from the Mercedes’ passenger side, where Bouadi was sitting, suggesting they weren’t in a position to see clearly.

“It lasted two, three seconds, it was dark,” he said. “And then from the moment you see the gun and it goes pow, pow pow … it’s hard to imagine the trauma someone went through, seeing gun flashes,” he said.

Latour said most of the bullet casings as well as gunpowder residue were found inside the car, suggesting the shots had been fired from the driver’s side. He added that there’s no reason not to believe Touaibi when he said he pulled the trigger. “He’s hard not to believe, he’s incriminating himself,” the lawyer said.

He said Bouadi was so panicked after the shooting that he tried to get out of the car while it was driving on the highway.

Latour said the Crown has failed to prove that his client committed or helped to commit a premeditated murder or attempted murder, and stressed to the jury that they must acquit if there is reasonable doubt.

“If you think he’s probably guilty … it’s not enough,” he said.

The Crown will present closing arguments Thursday afternoon.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 12, 2026.

Morgan Lowrie, The Canadian Press