A 27-year-old woman from Algeria, Dahbia Benkired, has been sentenced for raping, torturing, and murdering a 12-year-old schoolgirl named Lola Divet in Paris, France. Benkired admitted to the crime, where Lola’s body was discovered in the lobby of their shared building in 2022. The victim’s family referred to Benkired as a “monster devil” for abducting Lola, sexually assaulting her, and fatally injuring her with scissors and a box cutter.
Benkired silenced Lola by taping her mouth, leading to her death from suffocation. The trial garnered significant public interest in France, with protestors demonstrating outside the courthouse during the sentencing. Today, Benkired received a life imprisonment verdict for her atrocious actions.
Outside the court, demonstrators rallied for the reintroduction of the death penalty as a punishment for Benkired, a rare request in French legal proceedings. The country’s Attorney General accused Benkired of preying on Lola for personal gratification, advocating for a lifetime incarceration without the possibility of parole to prevent further harm.
The Attorney General emphasized the severity of Benkired’s crimes, urging the jury to consider the extreme danger she poses to society. Describing the crimes as particularly cruel, the official highlighted the immense suffering inflicted on Lola’s family. The proposed “irreducible life sentence” is the most severe penalty under French law, although it has faced criticism from human rights organizations.
During the court proceedings, Lola’s mother, Delphine Daviet, emotionally confronted Benkired. Daviet expressed deep sorrow over the tragic loss of her daughter, recalling the simple and loving family life they shared before the devastating events of October 14, 2022. She lamented her inability to protect Lola from encountering the perpetrator, whom she described as a “devil monster.” Daviet and her family continue to grapple with guilt and devastation, questioning why they had to endure such a profound loss.
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