The mother of a 12-year-old girl revealed in court that her husband “died of grief” following the horrific kidnapping, rape, torture, and beheading of their daughter by an Algerian migrant in France.

The young girl, Lola Daviet, was discovered brutally mutilated and partially decapitated inside a suitcase in 2022. Her murder sent shockwaves throughout the country and ignited protests demanding stricter immigration controls.

The perpetrator, 27-year-old Dhabia Benkired, who had overstayed her visa and worked as a prostitute in France, was found guilty of the crime. On Friday, she received a life sentence without the possibility of parole—a groundbreaking decision for a female offender in Europe.

Last week, Lola’s mother, Delphine Daviet, spoke in court, sharing how her husband, who had been sober for years, relapsed into alcoholism on the day their daughter’s body was discovered.

She recounted, “He drank from morning to night,” ultimately succumbing to his sorrow.

Johan Daviet died in February 2024 at age 49.

Benkired, an Algerian immigrant who overstayed her student visa, didn’t have a home and was working as a prostitute at the time of the murder, according to the Daily Mail.

During the trial, the court was shown photos of the young Lola’s tortured body, including injuries on her genitals and a large wound across her face.

Benkired lured the young girl into her sister’s apartment after school, the court was told. She forced Lola to undress, wash, and perform a sexual act, before torturing her.

Benkired stabbed the girl with scissors, and duck-taped her mouth, causing her to suffocate to death.

During the trial, her mother asked a forensic pathologist whether Lola suffered.

“She undoubtedly suffered,” was the response.

After torturing the young girl, Benkired stuffed her body into a black plastic suitcase, dragging it to a restaurant and back, before dumping it in the lobby of the apartment complex.

The body was found later that day by a homeless man who reported it to authorities.

The numbers ‘1’ and ‘0’ were mysteriously written on Lola’s feet, according to authorities who testified in court.

Delphine Daviet addressed her daughter’s killer as “this thing, this monster” on Wednesday, and asked the court: “Why did Lola follow her?”

Lawyers told the court they believe Benkired wanted revenge on Daviet’s parents after they refused to give her a key to the Paris apartments where they were caretakers.

Benkired sometimes stayed with her sister in the complex.

Before his death, Lola’s father wrote a letter that he hung on the door of Benkired’s apartment.

“My darling, I still don’t understand why there was so much cruelty and barbarity towards you, you who were so kind,” read the letter.

Benkired asked the family for forgiveness

“I would like to ask the whole family for forgiveness. What I did was horrible and I regret it,” Benkired said in court, according to Le Parisien.

The horrific details of the case sparked protests across the country, with many calling on the government to tighten immigration restrictions, since Benkired was issued an order to leave France just two months before the murder.

“Lola lost her life because you didn’t expel this national,” said Republican Minister of Parliament Éric Pauget to the justice minister.

Lola’s mother and brother pushed for a Benkired’s life sentence, and were pleased with the outcome of the trial, according to the family’s lawyer.

“In determining the appropriate sentence, the court took into account the unspeakable psychological damage to the victim and her family in such violent and almost unspeakable circumstances,” said the judge after the sentencing.