A 27-year-old woman named Dahbia Benkired from Algeria has been sentenced to life in prison without parole after being found guilty of raping, torturing, and murdering a 12-year-old schoolgirl named Lola Divet in Paris, France. Benkired, referred to as a “monster devil” by Lola’s family, confessed to abducting Lola, raping her, and fatally injuring her with scissors and a box cutter. Following the gruesome acts, Benkired suffocated Lola by taping her mouth.
During the sentencing, Benkired remained expressionless while Lola’s mother, Delphine Daviet, and her brother, Thibault Daviet, comforted each other in tears. The case garnered significant public attention in France, leading to protests outside the court prior to the verdict. Benkired’s sentence mirrors that of Salah Abdeslam, a Belgian terrorist involved in the ISIS attacks in Paris in 2015, who is currently under strict surveillance in solitary confinement.
Outside the court, demonstrators called for the reinstatement of the death penalty for individuals like Benkired, with French prosecutors seeking a rare life sentence for her. The Attorney General described Benkired as a danger who preyed on Lola for personal gratification, advocating for her permanent incarceration to safeguard society from her potential to reoffend. Lola’s mother emotionally addressed Benkired in court, expressing the profound impact of the tragedy on their once peaceful family life.
The sentencing marked a historic moment in French legal history, as Benkired became the first woman to receive an “irreducible life sentence” under the French Penal Code. Despite criticisms from human rights organizations, the severity of Benkired’s crimes warranted the harshest penalty available. Delphine Daviet, still grappling with the loss of her daughter, shared heartbreaking sentiments in court, lamenting the irreversible devastation caused by Benkired’s actions.