PARIS (AP) — Kim Kardashian thought she was going to be raped and killed when criminals broke into her bed room in central Paris, tied her up and stole greater than $6 million in jewellery.
Greater than eight years later, 10 folks will go on trial in Paris over the theft, abduction and kidnapping of the media persona and the concierge of the residence the place she was staying throughout Paris Style Week the night time of Oct. 2, 2016.
Kardashian’s legal professionals mentioned she’s going to testify in individual on the trial beginning Monday and scheduled to run by means of Might 23.
“Ms. Kardashian is reserving her testimony for the court and jury and does not wish to elaborate further at this time,” they mentioned. “She has nice respect and admiration for the French justice system and has been handled with nice respect by the French authorities. She needs the trial to proceed in an orderly trend, in accordance with French regulation and with respect for all events to the case.”
In interviews and on her household’s actuality TV present, Kardashian has described being terrified as robbers pointed a gun at her.
In a 2020 look on David Letterman’s Netflix present, she tearfully recalled considering: “This is the time I’m going to get raped. I’m like, ‘What is happening? Are we gonna die? Just tell them I have children. I have babies, I have a husband, I have a family.’ ”
Twelve folks have been initially anticipated within the defendants’ field. Considered one of them has died and one other is critically unwell and cannot be tried. In keeping with the investigation, 5 of the ten defendants have been current on the scene of the theft.
The Granddad Robbers
The French press has dubbed them The Granddad Robbers as a result of the principle defendants are aged and have careers as financial institution robbers with lengthy legal data.
Kardashian advised investigators she was taken to a rest room subsequent to her bed room and positioned within the bathtub. Her attackers fled on bicycles or on foot and she or he managed to free herself by eradicating the tape from her fingers and mouth.
She had additionally eliminated the tape from her toes and rushed to her stylist’s room. She known as her sister Kourtney to inform her in regards to the theft. Shortly afterward, Kardashian advised investigators that she had not been injured. She filed a grievance, including that she needed to depart France as quickly as attainable to be reunited together with her youngsters.
In keeping with her testimony and that of the concierge, no less than one of many suspects had a handgun, with which he threatened the victims.
Jewellery price tens of millions of {dollars}
The gangsters stole many items of bijou, together with a hoop of nice worth, estimated to be price greater than $6 million. Just one piece of bijou — a diamond cross on platinum that was misplaced in the course of the suspects’ escape — has been recovered.
Two of the accused have partially confessed to the crime, as their DNA was discovered on the crime scene.
The alleged ringleader, 68-year-old Aomar Aït Khedache, is certainly one of two suspected robbers who allegedly entered the condominium. Nicknamed “Old Omar,” his genetic profile was discovered on the tape used to gag Kardashian.
He left the lodge on a bicycle, as did two different robbers, then met his son, who was ready for him in a parked automobile at a close-by prepare station.
The second robber mentioned he tied up the concierge with cables however didn’t go as much as Kardashian’s condominium. Yunice Abbas, 71, mentioned he acted as a lookout within the floor flooring reception space, ensuring the escape route was clear. He mentioned he was unarmed and didn’t personally threaten Kardashian, however admitted he shared accountability for the crime.
Abbas was arrested in January 2017 and spent 21 months in jail earlier than being launched underneath judicial supervision. In 2021, he co-authored a French-language e-book titled “I Sequestered Kim Kardashian.”
Didier Dubreucq, 69, generally known as “Blue Eyes,” is the second alleged robber suspected of getting into the flat. He denies any involvement though he was filmed by CCTV cameras and quite a few phone contacts with the opposite co-defendants present his involvement, in response to the investigation.
The opposite defendants are suspected of offering details about Kardashian’s presence within the condominium. Others are accused of taking part in a task within the resale of the jewellery in Antwerp, Belgium.
