In a shocking court revelation, a convicted murderer who sexually assaulted and subjected a young schoolgirl to torture before killing her made a bone-chilling confession.
Dahbia Benkired, aged 27, has been sentenced to life without parole, marking the first instance of a woman receiving such a punishment in French legal history. She was found guilty of the brutal murder of Lola Daviet, whose lifeless body was discovered in a suitcase left at the entrance of the apartment building where she lived with her family in 2022. Benkired’s harrowing admission during the trial has captivated France and led to this rare sentence.
During the court proceedings, Lola’s mother, Delphine, recounted the last moments she spent with her daughter on October 14, 2022, before the tragic events unfolded. Delphine vividly remembered their final interaction, tearfully recalling: “I kissed her, said ‘see you later’.”
Benkired encountered Lola outside her residence in northeastern Paris. She had left her sister’s home with two suitcases after a dispute that morning with her partner, who had insulted her and rejected the idea of having a child with her, as revealed in court.
Upon seeing Lola, Benkired harbored sinister intentions, confessing: “In my mind, I decided to harm someone.” She approached Lola for help in carrying the suitcases into a building, to which Lola agreed despite her reservations about assisting strangers. Benkired reassured her, saying, “Don’t worry.”
Subsequently, Benkired lured Lola into an apartment where a horrific ordeal unfolded. The young girl was subjected to a brutal assault lasting an hour and a half, during which she was sexually assaulted, tortured, gagged, and ultimately suffocated.
In a chilling admission to the court, as reported by LeParisien, the perpetrator stated: “I sought retribution against the young girl. She was vulnerable compared to me. It was a spontaneous act.” She callously remarked, “Since I had violated her, I saw fit to end her life.”
Reflecting on the tragic incident, Lola’s mother emphasized the importance of vigilance and self-protection, urging her children to raise an alarm if threatened. She lamented, “I couldn’t save my Lola. My heart will forever ache.”
The French Attorney General characterized Benkired, an Algerian immigrant who had overstayed her student visa, as preying on the teenager for personal gratification and sexual fulfillment. The judge, in delivering the verdict, condemned Benkired’s actions as “cruel torture.”
Highlighting the immense psychological trauma inflicted on the victim and her family, the Attorney General emphasized the severity of the circumstances during sentencing.
Following the court’s decision, Delphine expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating, “We believed in justice, and justice was served.” Lola’s brother reflected, “We have honored my sister’s memory and upheld the truth.”
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