Woman Killed During Virtual Work Meeting as Montreal Man Faces First-Degree Murder Charge

A routine workday took a devastating turn when Leïla Ben Salem, a 45-year-old employee of the Canada Revenue Agency, was found dead inside her Montreal apartment. According to reports, she had been participating in a virtual meeting with colleagues when she was killed, turning an ordinary professional gathering into the backdrop of a tragedy that has left coworkers, loved ones and the wider community searching for answers.

The case took a significant step forward in October, when a 33-year-old man, Youcef Moussaoui, was charged with first-degree murder in connection with Ben Salem’s death. The charge was filed at the Montreal courthouse on Friday, October 16, following an investigation by the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal. Authorities had issued a warrant for Moussaoui’s arrest the previous day, and he was arrested later that afternoon, according to reports from Canadian news outlets.

Ben Salem was discovered on September 22, after police received a request for a wellness check at an apartment building on Saint-Christophe Street in Montreal, Quebec, shortly before 3:30 p.m. local time. Officers entered the residence and found her unresponsive. She was pronounced dead at the scene, according to reports cited by CBC. Investigators have not publicly disclosed all the circumstances surrounding her death, and key questions about what happened inside the apartment remain unanswered.

The fact that Ben Salem was reportedly on a virtual call with colleagues when the fatal incident occurred has added another unsettling dimension to the case. Remote meetings are a familiar part of working life for many people, often connecting coworkers from different locations through a screen. In this case, however, the meeting reportedly coincided with a violent crime that would soon prompt a police investigation and a murder charge.

Authorities have been careful not to disclose details that could affect the ongoing proceedings. Montreal police said the death was not related to domestic violence, while the alleged motive has not yet been made public. Officials indicated that evidence gathered during the criminal investigation—including information concerning the suspected motive—would be presented through the legal process. For now, the public has only a limited picture of the events leading to Ben Salem’s death.

Ben Salem worked for the Canada Revenue Agency, where she was described as a valued employee dedicated to serving Canadians. Her death prompted a response from Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who offered condolences to her loved ones in the House of Commons. Carney acknowledged that she had been carrying out her work at the time of the assault and said the government would seek accountability for the crime.

The case has now moved into the judicial process, but many details remain unresolved. Moussaoui’s next court appearance is scheduled for December 21. It was not clear from the initial reports whether he had legal representation available to comment on the allegations. As proceedings continue, prosecutors will have to present evidence supporting the first-degree murder charge, while the accused remains entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty.

For those who knew Ben Salem, the case is more than a criminal investigation. It is the sudden loss of a colleague and loved one whose working day ended in circumstances that remain difficult to comprehend. As Montreal police continue their investigation and the court process moves forward, her family, friends and colleagues are left waiting for answers about the final moments of her life—and for the legal proceedings to establish what happened.

Source: PEOPLE