A woman convicted of raping, torturing, and killing a young girl remained stoic as she received a historic life sentence without parole in France. Dahbia Benkired, a 27-year-old from Algeria, was found guilty of the heinous crimes against 12-year-old Lola Divet. Lola’s violated body was discovered in the lobby of their shared building in Paris in 2022. Benkired, labeled a “monster devil” by Lola’s family, admitted to abducting, raping, and fatally injuring the girl with scissors and a box cutter.
During the sentencing, Benkired showed no emotion, while Lola’s mother and brother embraced each other in tears. The court heard that Benkired suffocated Lola by taping her mouth after the brutal assault. The case garnered significant public attention in France, with protests outside the court prior to the ruling. Benkired’s punishment matches that of notorious criminals like Salah Abdeslam, a Belgian terrorist involved in the 2015 Paris attacks.
Demonstrators outside the courthouse demanded the reinstatement of the death penalty for Benkired, as French prosecutors pushed for an exceptional life sentence. The Attorney General condemned Benkired for preying on Lola for pleasure and deemed her a perpetual danger to society. The prosecution called for an “irreducible life sentence” to ensure the community’s protection.
Lola’s mother, Delphine Daviet, emotionally testified in court, lamenting the loss of her daughter and the shattered family life they once shared. She expressed deep regret for not being able to save Lola from the tragic encounter with the assailant. The devastating impact of the incident left the family in perpetual anguish and questioning why such a tragedy befell them.