In a disturbing court revelation, a criminal who sexually assaulted and subjected a young girl to torment before murdering her confessed to the heinous act.
Dahbia Benkired, aged 27, has been sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, marking a historic event as the first female in France to receive such a sentence. Benkired was found guilty of the brutal killing of Lola Daviet, whose lifeless body was discovered in a suitcase left in the lobby of her family’s apartment building in 2022. The shocking trial, which captivated the nation of France, culminated in the rare whole-life imprisonment for Benkired.
During the court proceedings, Lola’s mother, Delphine, recounted how Lola returned home on October 14, 2022, before going out again. Delphine vividly recalled her final moments with her daughter, stating, “I kissed her, I said ‘see you later’.”
The tragic encounter between Lola and Benkired occurred outside Lola’s residence in northeastern Paris. Benkired, following a dispute with her partner earlier that day, approached Lola with two suitcases after leaving her sister’s home. In a chilling admission to the court, Benkired revealed her malevolent intentions, stating, “In my mind, I thought ‘I’m going to harm someone.'” She persuaded Lola to assist her in carrying the suitcases into a building, leading to a series of horrifying events.
Benkired forcibly took Lola into an apartment where she subjected the young girl to a brutal assault involving rape, torture, and ultimately suffocation by taping her mouth shut.
In a shocking revelation to the court, Benkired admitted, “I sought vengeance on the young girl. She was weaker than me. It was not a deliberate choice; it happened suddenly.” She callously added, “Since I violated her, I might as well end her life.”
Delphine, Lola’s mother, emphasized to the court the importance of cautioning her children about strangers, urging them to scream for help if attacked. She expressed her devastation, stating, “I couldn’t protect my Lola. My heart will always be shattered.”
The Attorney General of France highlighted that Benkired, an Algerian immigrant who had overstayed her student visa, targeted the teenager for gratification and sexual desires. The judge, in delivering the verdict, condemned Benkired’s actions as “extreme torture.”
The court, considering the profound psychological trauma inflicted on the victim and her family in such harrowing circumstances, imposed the severe sentence on Benkired.
Following the sentencing, Delphine expressed relief, stating, “We had faith in the judicial system, and justice prevailed.” Lola’s brother added, “We have honored my sister’s memory and revealed the truth.”
At Reach and across our entities we and our partners use information collected through cookies and other identifiers from your device to improve experience on our site, analyse how it is used