Man charged after spouse stabbed to death in Pointe-aux-Trembles

A 42-year-old man has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the stabbing death of a woman in Montreal's Pointe-aux-Trembles neighbourhood.

Mustapha Mechken appeared by video conference at the Montreal courthouse Friday evening.

On Friday around 7:50 a.m., emergency services were called to an apartment on Sherbrooke Street East near Yves-Thériault Avenue.

Responders found the victim, Narjess Ben Yedder, unconscious.

Const. Sabrina Gauthier, a spokesperson for the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM), said officers tried to resuscitate Ben Yedder, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Gauthier said the victim had been fatally injured with a sharp object.

Police arrested the Mechken, the victim's spouse, at the scene, Radio-Canada reported.

Radio-Canada sources say the couple was in the process of separating.

Etni Cortes, an intervention worker at the nearby women's shelter, the Centre des femmes Montréal-Est Pointe-aux-Trembles, said members of her organization were both sad and angry that this happened.

"Every time it happens, we have this feeling that we could have done something for these women," said Cortes. "It happens more and more often. We are angry. We would like to make things change."

The demand for help has been growing since the end of the pandemic, said Cortes.

Sometimes it is as many as three women per week. While there are many reasons women seek help, she said the shelter's own effort to make the public aware of its services also plays a role in the recent increases.

Cortes said nobody at the shelter knew Ben Yedder, but they "want to help all women," she said.