No family members attended the court appearance. Messaoud did not enter a plea. He was represented by a legal aide lawyer.
The alleged attack took place Friday on Arago Street in Quebec City. Several neighbours saw the victim, a 27-year-old woman, on fire and screaming in the middle of the road.
She was left with severe burns to her face, hands and back, covering 50 per cent of her body. Her two children and mother, who witnesses say witnessed the incident, were treated for shock.