The brutal killing of a 12-year-old French girl, Lola Daviet, by an Algerian immigrant has sparked national outrage and demands for more stringent immigration policies. In 2022, Daviet was abducted, sexually violated, and savagely murdered, her mutilated and partially decapitated body discovered in a suitcase. The gruesome act was perpetrated by Dhabia Benkired, a 27-year-old Algerian woman who had overstayed her visa and was engaged in sex work in France.
Benkired was found guilty of the murder and received a life sentence without the possibility of parole, marking the first time a woman in France has been handed such a sentence. The case has sent shockwaves through the country, leading to widespread protests over perceived leniency in immigration enforcement.
The court heard from Lola’s mother, Delphine Daviet, about the profound impact of the crime on her family. She revealed that her husband, who had been sober for many years, turned to alcohol on the day their daughter’s body was found and eventually succumbed to grief in 2024.
During the trial, the court was shown disturbing evidence of the torture Lola suffered before her death. Benkired had enticed Lola into her sister’s apartment, forced her to undress and perform a sexual act, and then subjected her to torture. She stabbed Lola with scissors and suffocated her with duct tape.
Following the murder, Benkired placed Lola’s body in a suitcase and left it in the lobby of an apartment building. A homeless man later discovered the body and alerted the authorities. Bizarrely, the numbers ‘1’ and ‘0’ were found written on Lola’s feet.
In court, Delphine Daviet referred to Benkired as a “monster” and questioned why her daughter had followed her. It was suggested by lawyers that Benkired may have sought revenge on the Daviet family after they denied her a key to the Paris apartments they were managing.
Before his death, Lola’s father penned a letter expressing his disbelief at the cruelty inflicted on his compassionate daughter. Benkired, in court, sought the family’s forgiveness, acknowledging the horror of her actions.
The horrifying details of the case have led to protests across France, with many calling for stricter immigration controls. Benkired had been ordered to leave France just two months before the murder. Lola’s mother and brother advocated for Benkired’s life sentence and expressed satisfaction with the trial’s outcome.