Man on trial in France for burning wife to death
Mounir Boutaa allegedly attacked Chahinez Daoud following their separation, shot her in both legs, poured petrol on her and set her on fire
A French-Algerian man went on trial in France on Monday for burning to death his wife in 2021, a case that shocked the public and sparked heavy criticism of police for failing to take adequate measures to protect her.
In 2021 Mounir Boutaa, now 48, stalked his Algerian-born wife Chahinez Daoud following their separation, and even bought a van he parked outside her house near Bordeaux in southwestern France, which he used to watch her without being detected himself.
On May 4 of that year, he allegedly attacked her in the street, shot her in both legs, poured petrol on her and set her on fire.
A neighbour hearing the screams tried to intervene but it was too late for Daoud. When her body was recovered, it was completely charred. She was 31 and a mother of three.
Boutaa, who filmed part of the horrific scene, was arrested shortly afterward.
“I wanted to burn her,” he told police after his arrest, “for all the things that she and the judiciary did.”
He denied any intention to kill his wife, saying he had wanted instead to “punish her”, burn her “a little” and make sure she would “keep marks”.