Horror in Paris: Woman on Trial for Brutal Murder of 12-Year-Old Girl
Dahbia Benkired, 27, stands accused of the savage rape, torture, and murder of 12-year-old Lola Daviet in Paris. The chilling 2022 crime shook France to its core and sparked fierce arguments over immigration control. Lola’s body was found stuffed inside a trunk in the very apartment block where her parents worked as caretakers.
Family Tragedy Worsens: Father Dies Heartbroken
Lola’s father, Johan Daviet, was crushed by grief and never recovered from his daughter’s murder. He separated from his wife, battled alcoholism, and tragically died of a heart attack in February 2024. Family lawyer Clotilde Lepetit revealed his pain was unbearable: his “head and heart were too close to hell” after losing Lola.
“We want the whole truth, to all of France and to us,” said Lola’s brother, Thibault, defiantly addressing the accused. “Our father died because of the same person.”
Lola’s mother, Delphine, appeared in court saying she is “waiting for justice.” Family members wore white T-shirts with Lola’s picture and the heartbreaking message: “You were the sun of our life, you will be the star of our nights.”
The Crime That Gripped a Nation
On 14 October 2022, Benkired lured young Lola into an apartment in northeast Paris where she suffered horrific abuse. Forensic experts confirmed she was sexually assaulted multiple times and killed by suffocation, wrapped in tape.
- Neighbours saw Benkired carrying suitcases and a heavy trunk shortly after. When confronted, she bizarrely claimed she was “selling a kidney.”
- She tried to flee police but was caught the next day. That night, a homeless man discovered Lola’s body.
Immigration Row Rocks French Politics
The case exploded politically after it emerged Benkired was living illegally in France, ignoring an expulsion order issued just two months before the murder. She had arrived legally in 2016 on a student visa but overstayed.
In court, Benkired said: “I feel free in France. In Algeria, we have no life. I studied here, I grew up here, I have my whole family here.”
Right-wing leaders like Marine Le Pen and Éric Zemmour jumped on the case to slam immigration laws. But Lola’s mother begged: please, stop exploiting my daughter’s death for politics.
Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne urged “decency” and respect, calling on officials to do their duties without political meddling.
Dark Past and Bizarre Motive Theories
Benkired revealed a troubled childhood split between Algeria and France, marked by abuse and trauma. At the time of the murder, she was homeless, unemployed, and living with her sister.
Investigators found strange clues: Benkired had painted numbers on Lola’s feet with nail polish and was obsessed with online witchcraft searches. She referenced dark folklore about children killed in occult rituals.
Her story kept shifting—from admitting guilt to blaming ghosts or strangers for the crime.
Psych Report Clears Her for Trial — Life Sentence Looms
Experts declared Benkired mentally fit to stand trial despite signs of manipulation and heavy cannabis use. She faces a potential life sentence for murder with rape and torture.
Lola was a bright student and gymnast, remembered as kind-hearted and strong-willed by her mother.
The trial runs until 24 October, with a verdict expected soon. Outside court, far-right protesters waved anti-immigration banners, highlighting the fierce political tensions this horrific case has provoked.
France continues to wrestle with violent crime, immigration fights, and the raw grief faced by victims’ families.
