Story perspectives

First Woman in France Sentenced to Life for Murder

10/24/2025

Summary

Story summary

Dahbia Benkired, 27, received a life sentence in Paris for the rape, torture, and murder of 12-year-old Lola Daviet, marking her as the first woman in France to face such a penalty. The court highlighted the extreme cruelty of the crime, which involved suffocating Lola with duct tape and hiding her body in a trunk. The case intensified anti-immigrant sentiments, as Benkired was in France illegally. Political figures, including Marine Le Pen, called for stricter immigration policies following the verdict. Medical experts deemed Benkired a continued danger, noting her "psychopathic" traits.

History

Historical Context

In 2019, France's National Assembly enacted stricter immigration laws amid rising anti-immigrant sentiments, influenced by political figures like Marine Le Pen. The 2022 murder of 12-year-old Lola Daviet by Dahbia Benkired, an undocumented immigrant, intensified debates linking crime to immigration status, highlighting France's ongoing struggle to reconcile humanitarian values with national security concerns.

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Story summary

Dahbia Benkired, 27, received a life sentence in Paris for the rape, torture, and murder of 12-year-old Lola Daviet, marking her as the first woman in France to face such a penalty. The court highlighted the extreme cruelty of the crime, which involved suffocating Lola with duct tape and hiding her body in a trunk. The case intensified anti-immigrant sentiments, as Benkired was in France illegally. Political figures, including Marine Le Pen, called for stricter immigration policies following the verdict. Medical experts deemed Benkired a continued danger, noting her "psychopathic" traits.

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