Paris, France — A 27-year-old Algerian woman, Dahbia Benkired, has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the rape, torture, and murder of 12-year-old Lola Daviet in 2022 — a case that horrified France and drew nationwide outrage.
According to CNN affiliate BFMTV, Benkired must spend at least 30 years in prison and is the first woman in France to receive the country’s harshest possible sentence under its penal code.
Grisly Murder That Shocked France
The killing occurred in October 2022, when the body of Lola Daviet was found mutilated and stuffed into a plastic storage box in a courtyard of her apartment building in Paris’s 19th arrondissement.
Police launched a massive investigation after Lola was reported missing earlier that day. Surveillance footage later showed the young girl entering the building with Benkired at 3:15 p.m., but only the suspect emerging about two hours later, carrying heavy luggage.
“The victim’s body was discovered just hours after she was first reported missing,” prosecutors said in a statement.
According to CNN, the autopsy revealed that Lola died from cardiorespiratory failure caused by asphyxiation and neck compression. She also had multiple other injuries, including severe cuts to her neck, face, and back.
Confession and Shocking Details
During police questioning, Benkired admitted to luring Lola to her sister’s apartment in the same building. There, she forced the child to take a shower before subjecting her to sexual assault and violent acts that ultimately caused her death.
“She then hid the child’s body in a plastic box,” the Paris prosecutor’s statement said.
Benkired’s confession sent shockwaves through France, as investigators detailed the brutality of the crime and the young age of the victim.
Courtroom Proceedings and Apology
In court, Benkired described her crimes as “horrible” and asked for forgiveness before deliberations began. Her lawyer, Alexandre Valois, said the verdict was not unexpected, noting that Benkired has not yet decided whether to appeal.
“This verdict did not come as a surprise,” Valois told reporters, adding that his client is still considering her next legal steps.
The court’s decision to impose a life sentence without parole marks a rare outcome in France’s justice system — and the first time a woman has ever received it.
Family’s Emotional Response
After the sentencing, Lola’s family expressed relief that justice had been served, though they acknowledged the lasting pain of their loss.
“We are happy with the response we received,” said Lola’s brother, thanking the French justice system for its decision.
Her mother added,
“Even if it won’t give us back our Lola.”
Their lawyer, Clotilde Lepetit, welcomed what she called a “fair decision, based on reason, humanity, truth, and memory.”
“We restored this young girl’s memory. We restored a shattered truth,” Lepetit said.
A Tragedy That Left France Reeling
The murder of Lola Daviet sparked national mourning and reignited debates in France about violence against children and the handling of repeat offenders. Vigils were held across Paris, and public officials expressed deep sympathy for the victim’s family.
With Benkired now behind bars for life, many in France see the verdict as both a landmark ruling and a symbolic measure of justice for a case that left the nation heartbroken.
What are your thoughts on this verdict and the impact of the case on France’s justice system? Share your views in the comments below.
