In a deeply disturbing case that has gripped France, a woman has been handed one of the country’s rarest and most severe punishments: a whole-life sentence. Dahbia Benkired, 27, has been ordered to spend a minimum of 30 years behind bars for the brutal rape and murder of 12-year-old Lola Daviet. This is the first time a woman has received such a sentence in France, a penalty typically reserved for the most heinous crimes, including those committed by notorious serial killers and terrorists.
The verdict brought some solace to Lola’s grieving family. Her mother, Delphine Daviet, expressed her faith in the justice system, stating, “We believed in justice and we got it.” Her brother, Thibault, added, “We have restored the memory of my sister, we have restored the truth.”
Warning: This story contains distressing details
Lola’s life was tragically cut short in October 2022 when her body was discovered in a plastic storage box within the courtyard of her Parisian apartment building. Benkired, an Algerian national who had overstayed her visa and was under an order to leave France, has become a focal point for political discourse, particularly among right-wing and far-right factions who have used the case to highlight immigration concerns.
During the trial, prosecutors advocated for the harshest sentence, emphasizing that psychiatric evaluations found Benkired to possess “psychopathic” traits, though she was deemed sane. The prosecutor argued forcefully that no treatment could fundamentally alter Benkired’s personality, stating, “When there is no illness, there is no treatment.”
In her final address to the court before the jury’s deliberation, Benkired offered a brief apology, saying, “I ask for forgiveness and what I did is horrible. That’s all I have to say.”
CCTV footage revealed Benkired approaching Lola shortly after the 12-year-old returned from school on October 14, 2022. Reports indicate that Benkired lured Lola into an apartment sublet by her sister. Over an agonizing hour and a half, Benkired subjected Lola to sexual assault before inflicting fatal injuries with scissors and a box cutter. Lola was ultimately bound with duct tape, including around her head, leading to her death by asphyxiation.
The presiding judge condemned the “extreme cruelty” and “true torture” of Benkired’s actions, acknowledging the “unspeakable psychological damage” inflicted upon Lola and her family. Benkired’s immigration status also became a significant point of contention, with political figures from the National Rally and other hard-right parties making public statements critical of her presence in France. However, France’s Justice Minister cautioned against the “indecency” of such political exploitation of the tragedy, urging for reflection on the impact of their words.
Lola’s parents publicly denounced the use of their daughter’s name and image for political gain. Sadly, Lola’s father, Johan Daviet, passed away in 2024 at the age of 49.