A woman convicted of raping and killing a young girl in Paris has received France’s rarest and harshest prison sentence.

Dahbia Benkired, 27, has been sentenced to a life term without parole for the 2022 torture, rape and murder of 12-year-old Lola Daviet, in a crime that shocked France for its brutality and stirred national debate over immigration policies and public safety, as the BBC reports.

On Oct. 14, 2022, Daviet disappeared from her family's apartment building in northeastern Paris. She was last seen just hours before her body was discovered in a plastic box left in the courtyard of the same residence. The investigation led authorities to Benkired, who was sub-letting an apartment in the same building through her sister.

Prosecutors detailed how Benkired lured the child into the apartment before subjecting her to a prolonged attack. Over the course of an hour and a half, Lola was sexually assaulted, stabbed with scissors and a box cutter, and bound with duct tape that was also wrapped around her head. The autopsy confirmed the cause of death as asphyxiation.

Conviction leads to historic sentencing

This month, a French court handed down a whole-life prison sentence to Benkired, making her the first woman in French legal history to receive such a penalty. Typically issued in cases of extreme violence or terrorism, this sentence means she will not be eligible for release for at least 30 years—and even then, only under strict conditions.

The presiding judge cited not only the savage nature of the crime but also the irreversible harm it caused to Daviet’s family. He described the ordeal as “true torture” and referenced the “unspeakable psychological damage” inflicted by the murder.

During the trial, which concluded after jury deliberations, Benkired offered a brief apology, telling the court, “I ask for forgiveness and what I did is horrible. That’s all I have to say.” Psychiatric evaluations found that while she exhibited “psychopathic” characteristics, she was mentally competent at the time of the killing.

Public, political fallout follows tragedy

The crime soon gained political attention due to Benkired’s immigration history. Originally from Algeria, she had been in France on a student visa but was ordered to leave the country in July 2022 after authorities discovered she had failed to renew her paperwork. That order went unenforced.

Right-wing figures quickly seized on this detail. Jordan Bardella, president of the National Rally party, said that Benkired “had no business being in France.” Éric Zemmour, a hard-right commentator and politician, stated that “Lola’s murderer should never have crossed her path.”

However, Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin condemned these statements as exploitative, saying politicians “should reflect on the consequences of their words.” He labeled their reactions as exhibiting a level of public “indecency.”

Family's dignity amid political storm

Daviet’s parents, Delphine and Johan, firmly rejected the politicization of their daughter's death. They issued a joint statement asking the public, media, and all political voices to refrain from using Lola’s name “for political ends.”

At the sentencing, Delphine Daviet said, "We believed in justice and we got it." Lola’s surviving brother, Thibault, told the court and reporters, "We have restored the memory of my sister, we have restored the truth."

In 2024, Johan Daviet passed away at the age of 49. The family did not specify the cause of death, but his passing added another somber chapter to an already devastating story.

Lessons to learn

1. Be aware of your surroundings and neighbors: Although there is no way to predict such horrific acts, knowing who lives or stays nearby can help identify potential concerns. Unfortunately, situations like this show that danger can arise from familiar environments.

2. Handle documentation and legal statuses transparently and promptly: Immigration status is a matter of law enforcement, not public safety in every case. Yet lapses in handling these issues may have unintended consequences, if not dealt with responsibly.

3. Support victims without politicization: Families in grief often become unintended symbols. It’s important to honor victims by focusing on justice, not political agendas. Regardless of preventative actions, it's vital to stress that victims are never to blame for crimes committed against them.

Why this story matters

This crime rattled the public’s sense of safety, revealing vulnerabilities in how legal systems enforce residency and monitor individuals with alarming behavior.

The punishment marks a rare legal precedent and forces a national conversation about justice, mental health, and immigration.

It also reminds the public of the need to protect the dignity of victims and survivors amid media frenzy.