Kim Kardashian jewelry heist trial begins in Paris

A trial over the 2016 heist in which armed robbers tied up reality star Kim Kardashian in her bedroom and stole millions of dollars’ worth of jewelry has begun in Paris.

Ten people — nine men and a woman — are on trial on charges of robbery and kidnapping of the media personality and the concierge of the residence where she was staying on the night of Oct. 2, 2016. Two of them acknowledged their participation and the others denied it.

Kardashian was in France for Fashion Week when men dressed as police officers allegedly tied her up with zip ties and duct tape, held her at gunpoint and stole $10 million worth of jewelry, including a $4 million diamond ring given to her by her then-husband Kanye West.

In interviews and on her family’s reality TV show, Kardashian described being terrified, thinking she was going to be raped and killed when the criminals broke into her bedroom and pointed a gun at her.

“They dragged me out to the hallway on top of the stairs, that’s when I saw the gun like clear as day,” she said on her show, “Keeping Up with the Kardashians.” “It makes me so upset thinking about it.”

Her lawyers said she will testify in person at the trial, with a provisional schedule showing that is expected to happen on May 13. The trial is scheduled to run through May 23.

“Ms. Kardashian is reserving her testimony for the court and jury and does not wish to elaborate further at this time,” they said. “She has great respect and admiration for the French justice system and has been treated with great respect by the French authorities. She wishes the trial to proceed in an orderly fashion, in accordance with French law and with respect for all parties to the case.”

Twelve people were originally expected in the defendants’ box. One of them died and another is seriously ill and can’t be tried. According to the investigation, five of the 10 defendants were present at the scene of the robbery.

The “Granddad Robbers”

The French press has dubbed them The Granddad Robbers because the main defendants are older — most in their 60s and 70s — and have been bank robbers with long criminal records.

The DNA of two of the accused was found at the scene, and they have admitted taking part in the robbery.

Aomar Ait Khedache, now aged 69, was allegedly the mastermind behind the heist.

Known as “Old Omar”, he reportedly told investigators he had no idea who Kardashian was but had heard from a waiter friend about the amazing jewelry she wore when she was out dining in Paris.

When the robbers arrived at the luxury suites hotel known only as “The No Address” where the celebrity was staying during Paris Fashion Week, they allegedly demanded the guard, at gunpoint, direct them to “the rapper’s wife” – a reference to her then-husband, West.

“Old Omar” reportedly wrote to Kardashian in 2017, when he was in custody, to say sorry. Her lawyers said he wrote to apologize after he heard her speak of how traumatic the experience had been.

He left the hotel on a bicycle, as did two others, then met his son, who was waiting for him in a parked car at a nearby train station.

The other man — 77-year-old Yunice Abbas — has publicly admitted to being a lookout during the robbery. 

He said he was unarmed and did not personally threaten Kardashian, but admitted he shared responsibility for the crime.

In 2021, he co-authored a French-language book titled “I Sequestered Kim Kardashian.”

Abbas told reporters that he will apologize during the trial and will give details of his role in the heist but won’t denounce anyone else.

The other defendants are suspected of providing information about Kardashian’s presence in the apartment. Others are accused of playing a role in the resale of the jewelry in Antwerp, Belgium.

The gangsters stole many pieces of jewelry. Only one piece of jewelry — a diamond cross on platinum that was lost during the suspects’ escape — has been recovered.

Celebrity status could distract from trial

As the trial opened Monday, lawyers for the accused told reporters outside the court that they were concerned that Kardashian’s fame would distract from the essentials of the case.

“It’s a simple case with people who will accept responsibility, who regret what they’ve done,” said Frank Berton, lawyer for Khedache.

Another of his lawyers, Chloe Arnoux, told reporters: “He is, in fact, rather worried about seeing all you journalists, because he is afraid that his case will not be treated the same way it would be if there were not such a famous person involved in it.”

The lawyer for night watchman Abderrahmane Ouatiki told journalists on his way into court that he was tired of suggestions that the robbers who allegedly forced his client at gunpoint to direct them to Kardashian’s suite were “kind old men.”

“The people in front of him that day were not Robin Hoods, they were experienced, determined criminals who did not hesitate to threaten him while he was working nights to finance his studies,” he said.

contributed to this report.