Today, France is dealing with yet another horrific killing, which has become all too commonplace in this country. On Wednesday, in the neighborhood of Merignac, a suburb of Bordeaux, a 31-year-old mother of three was shot and then burned alive by her husband on the street where they lived. The husband, identified only as Mounir B.,* had just been released from prison for a prior case of domestic abuse against the victim, identified only as Chahinez.
*(Update: The French blog, FDeSouche is identifying the killer as Mounir Boutaa. The two photos shown on social media in the link appear to be the family (top), while the other photo (bottom) appears to be an old photo from the Algerian war of independence.)
The below article from France 3 is translated by Fousesquawk. There is an accompanying video which we are currently translating as well.
Mother burned alive at Merignac had filed complaint against her companion who had just left prison
In the aftermath of the drama, astonishment and terror are still very much alive in this suburban quarter of Merignac. A woman age 31, mother of three children, is dead in the middle of the street after being burned alive by her companion. He had just come out of prison.
Published 5-5-21, 12:36. Updated 5-5-21, 18:06
It is incomprehension in this suburban quarter of quiet reputation in Merignac. How could such a drama have happened? At 18:10 Tuesday evening, May 4, when the residents of Avenue Carnot heard cries and bangs.
"At first, we thought it was firecrackers," says a local resident. We thought the young people were having fun."
But very quickly, they realized the drama that was building up. According to the first elements, the 31-year-old woman manages to flee from the house, but she can't go very far, followed by her armed companion in the street
"We passed him. He passed in front of us with a shotgun and some cartridges. We called the police. In the meantime, he set fire to the house."
According to the Bordeaux prosecutor's office, "two witnesses saw her fall to the ground". Her partner, armed, shot her once, then a second time. She (was) wounded in her thighs, laying on the street, but still breathing.
The 44-year-old individual, from whom she was officially separated, took a can from a van parked nearby, splashed his wife with a liquid, and set her on fire. The first responders could not save her. The family home, situated a few hundred meters from the scene, was discovered at the same time, partially burned and empty of occupants.
The perpetrator, who left the scene on foot, would be arrested by the services of BAC, without any injuries to police, a short time later, at 18:45 in the proximity of Avenue Leon-Blum, in the municipality of Pessac.
The prosecutor confirmed that the subject was heavily armed, carrying a 12 gauge rifle, a gas pistol, and a cartridge belt. After a preliminary investigation, it turns out that Mounir B. is unfavorably known to police and judicial authorities.
He had just left prison
His wife, Chahinez, was a battered woman. The marital violence, of which she was victim, was known in the neighborhood. According to the same resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, the police had come several times to the conjugal domicile.
There have been medical reports. The first time, we didn't understand, she had 75% of her larynx crushed, for me, there had already been an attempted murder.
-A neighbor of the victim
Some neighbors claim that the respective families put pressure on the couple to live again under the same roof. The young woman reportedly agreed. The (neighbors) explain that the husband had returned to the house, a short time ago in spite of a prohibition to be in contact or to approach his wife, as ordered by the court.
"She was very nice, very discreet. She would close the shutters when her (husband) was shouting so that the neighbors didn't hear."
-A neighbor
Already sentenced for violence against the victim
On 25 June, 2020, he had been sentenced by the correctional tribunal of Bordeaux as part of an immediate appearance for willful domestic violence (against) the same victim, to a punishment of 18 months, with 9 months of a probationary stay of two years with a detention order issued at the hearing.
They had one child together. The two others of the mother are from a first relationship. Ages 3, 7, and 11 years, were not at the residence at the time of the incident.
The two youngest are in child care, the oldest with a friend. They are under psychological care by SAMU. This Wednesday, a psychological unit is in place from 18:00 at the Burck Social and Cultural Center at Merignac for all those who wish to talk about this trauma.
No telephone
Numerous questions remain to be answered. Had the danger to the victim not been properly evaluated when her companion came out of prison, sentenced for domestic violence? How could Mounir B. be able to return to the conjugal domicile despite the ban on approaching his wife? According to the Bordeaux prosecutor, Chahinez did not use her (emergency) phone, a telephone given to the victims of domestic violence that allows them to alert emergency responders rapidly using a single touch. Mounir B. was not wearing an electronic bracelet.
An investigation is opened by the head of willful homicide and arson. It has been assigned to departmental security. Mounir B. is still being held in custody on Wednesday.
According to domestic violence victims defense associations, 38 women have been killed by their partner or ex-partner since January 2021. With the murder of this mother in Merignac, this is the 39th killing of a woman recorded in France this year.
*Update: Moutaa's Facebook page has not been taken down as yet and there are several entries reproaching him for killing his wife. There is also a graphic video showing French atrocities in the Algerian war of independence.
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