Man charged with first-degree murder of a federal employee in Montreal

Youcef Moussaoui, 33, was charged on Friday, by video link from the Montreal courthouse, in the death of Leïla Ben Salem, 45, an employee of the Canada Revenue Agency.

On Sep 22, he allegedly entered her apartment on René-Lévesque Boulevard and struck her repeatedly with a blunt object while she was on an online call with a colleague, who alerted authorities.

Montreal police arrested the suspect on Thursday. The motive has not been disclosed, authorities rule out femicide for now, and the link between the two is unknown.

Montreal courthouse

Moussaoui is held at the Bordeaux jail until he returns to court on Dec 21.