The trial of Dahbia Benkired, a 27-year-old Algerian woman accused of the rape and murder of 12-year-old Lola Daviet, opened Friday in a Paris courtroom, three years after the crime shocked the nation and ignited political debate over immigration enforcement.
Benkired, who was found mentally fit to stand trial, expressed remorse during the proceedings. โI apologise to the whole family,โ she said in a subdued tone. โItโs horrible what I did. I regret it.โ
Lolaโs parents, who worked as caretakers in the building where the girlโs body was discovered, attended the hearing alongside other family members. They wore white T-shirts bearing Lolaโs image and the words: โYou were the sun of our life, you will be the star of our nights.โ
The case dates back to October 14, 2022, when Lola was reported missing in the 19th arrondissement of Paris. Her body was later found in a trunk in the buildingโs lobby. Surveillance footage showed Benkired luring the girl into her sisterโs apartment, where she later assaulted and killed her. Investigators say the child died from asphyxiation after being bound with duct tape.
Benkired, who had overstayed a student visa and ignored a deportation order, was arrested the following day. Her immigration status became a flashpoint for conservative and far-right politicians, who cited the case in calls for stricter immigration controls. The victimโs mother has since urged political figures not to exploit her daughterโs death for partisan gain.
Chilling Details and Troubled Past
According to court documents, Benkired told a bystander outside a cafรฉ that she was โselling a kidneyโ when questioned about the trunk. She later convinced a friend to help transport the luggage before returning to the building in a taxi. She fled upon seeing police and was apprehended shortly after.
In court, Benkired recounted a troubled upbringing marked by family dysfunction, alleged sexual abuse, and substance use. She said she began smoking cannabis heavily in the days leading up to the crime and had previously turned to prostitution under the influence of a drug-dealing boyfriend.
A psychological evaluation described her as manipulative but not suffering from a major psychiatric disorder. The death of her mother in 2020 was cited as a pivotal moment in her mental decline.
Investigators also revealed that Benkired had searched online for information about witchcraft in the days before the murder. She reportedly harbored resentment toward Lolaโs mother, who had denied her access to the building despite her sister providing her with a key.
Political and Social Fallout
The case has continued to reverberate in France, with far-right groups staging demonstrations outside the courthouse. Activists from the group Les Natifs unfurled a banner reading โI donโt want to be nextโ and spray-painted slogans blaming immigration for violence against women.
Benkired faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment if convicted. The trial is expected to conclude next Friday.
