Man charged with first-degree murder in death of Montreal woman killed during Zoom call

MONTREAL · A 33-year-old man faces a first-degree murder charge after a 45-year-old woman was killed in her downtown Montreal apartment last month. Youcef Moussaoui was arrested on Thursday afternoon in the Ville-Marie borough and appeared at the Montreal courthouse on Friday. The victim, identified by her union as Leila Ben Salem, was a Canada Revenue Agency employee. She was found unresponsive in her residence on René-Lévesque Boulevard near Saint-Christophe Street on the afternoon of Sept. 22 after police responded to a request for a wellness check.

Montreal police said officers arrived at the building around 3:25 p.m. and pronounced the woman dead at the scene. The Service de police de la Ville de Montréal issued a warrant for Moussaoui's arrest and took him into custody on Thursday. "He is expected to appear at the Montreal courthouse Friday, where police say he will be charged with first-degree murder," Global News reported. Authorities have stated the killing was not related to intimate partner violence.

Sources told Global News that Ben Salem was attacked while participating in a work-related Zoom call. The death was initially treated as suspicious before being handed over to the homicide unit. Investigators conducted a detailed examination of the apartment building and reviewed surveillance footage in the days following the incident. Police said evidence gathered during the investigation, including the alleged motive, "will be made public during the judicial process."

The case represents the 19th homicide within the SPVM's jurisdiction this year. Federal political leaders offered tributes to Ben Salem following her death. Police are urging anyone with information not yet provided to investigators to contact 911 or their local station. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Info-Crime Montréal.

With files from CBC News, Global News and CityNews