Men accused of murdering Montreal teen Meriem Boundaoui in 2021 appear in court

The two men facing first-degree murder charges in the fatal drive-by shooting of teenager Meriem Boundaoui in Montreal nearly five years ago appeared in court Tuesday.

Authorities say Boundaoui, 15, was an innocent bystander in what prosecutors have described as the culmination of a dispute between two businesses in Saint-Leonard.

On Feb. 7, 2021, Boundaoui was with another person inside a stopped car when a second car drove up and a suspect or suspects opened fire. The Montreal teen and a 21-year-old man who was on the sidewalk were hit by bullets. Boundaoui would not recover from her injuries.

Aymane Bouadi and Salim Touaibi, who were both in their mid-20s at the time of the shooting, were arrested and charged with first-degree murder.

Tuesday was the first court appearance for both accused in the case. They were present in the court room during early-morning proceedings that included jury management.

More coming.