A woman named Dahbia Benkired, 27, has been sentenced to a rare whole-life term by a French court for the rape and murder of 12-year-old Lola Daviet in Paris. This sentencing marks a significant case, as whole-life sentences are extremely uncommon in France, and Benkired is the first woman to receive such a sentence. The court’s decision reflects the severity of the crime, with Benkired required to serve a minimum of 30 years in prison.
Lola was murdered in October 2022, and her body was discovered in a plastic storage box in the courtyard of her residence in northeastern Paris. Benkired, an Algerian immigrant who was facing deportation at the time of the crime, has become a focal point for discussions around immigration and crime in France, particularly among right-wing politicians.
During the trial, Lola’s family was present to hear the verdict. The prosecutor argued for the maximum sentence, asserting that Benkired exhibited “psychopathic” traits, although she was deemed sane. The prosecutor emphasized that no treatment could change her personality, stating, “When there is no illness, there is no treatment.”
Before the jury began deliberations, Benkired addressed the court, expressing remorse with the statement, “I ask for forgiveness and what I did is horrible. That’s all I have to say.” Notably, the case has drawn comparisons to other high-profile cases in France involving whole-life sentences, such as those given to serial killer Michel Fourniret and jihadist Salah Abdeslam, implicated in the 2015 Paris attacks that resulted in 130 deaths. The implications of this case may resonate beyond the courtroom, raising questions regarding societal and legal approaches to similar crimes.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjr07wqeerwo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss