The body of a 12‑year‑old girl was discovered in a plastic suitcase on a Paris street, and a 27‑year‑old woman is now on trial for her murder.
Murder Shocks France
On October 14, 2022, 12‑year‑old Lola Daviet vanished after school in Paris’s 19th district. Her parents called police, and later that evening, her body was found inside a plastic suitcase on a nearby street. Surveillance footage captured Dahbia Benkired approaching the girl and, minutes later, appearing beside a large suitcase.
Legal Proceedings Begin
Dahbia Benkired’s trial will start on Friday, 17 October in Paris. She faces charges of murder, assault and torture, with a potential life sentence. The 27‑year‑old has been in pre‑trial detention at Fresnes since her arrest, while the investigation confirmed she was in France illegally.
Background of the Accused
Benkired was previously known to authorities as a domestic‑violence victim and had no criminal record. Testimonies were inconsistent; psychiatric evaluations deemed her potentially fit to stand trial.
Political Dissemination
The case sparked a political debate as right‑wing politicians, led by Marine Le Pen, used the tragedy to criticize France’s immigration policies. In parliament, Les Républicains’ Eric Pauget alleged that “Lola’s murder was a consequence of France’s weakness toward illegal immigration,” while Justice Minister Eric Dupond‑Moretti condemned the politicization of a child’s death.
