Ten suspects appeared in a Paris courtroom on Monday as proceedings began for the high-profile 2016 robbery involving American reality TV star Kim Kardashian.
The theft, which remains the largest targeting a private individual in France in the last two decades, involved the loss of jewelry worth approximately $10 million.
Kardashian, now 44, fled Paris in distress just hours after the traumatic robbery that occurred on the night of October 2-3, 2016.
She is expected to testify on May 13, with her appearance anticipated to be a major moment in the ongoing trial.
The accused include mostly men in their 60s and 70s, some bearing underworld nicknames like “Old Omar” and “Blue Eyes” — monikers that evoke the gritty charm of vintage French crime films from the 1960s and 70s.
At the time of the robbery, Kardashian was 35 and in Paris for Fashion Week. Armed intruders entered her luxury hotel around 3:00 a.m., having arrived by bicycle. The attackers held a gun to her head, bound her hands and legs, and taped her mouth shut. They then demanded her diamond engagement ring, a piece she had prominently displayed on social media, valued alone at $4 million.
The intruders escaped with jewels worth a total of $10 million. Only one item — a diamond necklace — was ever recovered, found on the street during their getaway. The entire ordeal lasted roughly 10 minutes, with Kardashian’s bodyguard returning just after the thieves had fled. Authorities used DNA traces from the scene to arrest the suspects three months later.
The trial will explore how the gang obtained precise information on Kardashian’s location and schedule. They struck when her bodyguard was out with her sister Kourtney at a nightclub. Prosecutors allege that Kardashian’s social media activity, which frequently showcased her luxury lifestyle and location, played a key role in enabling the crime.
Though 12 people were initially charged, 10 are now standing trial. One suspect died in March, and another is facing a separate trial due to health concerns. Among the central figures is 68-year-old Aomar Ait Khedache, alias “Old Omar,” whose DNA at the crime scene was pivotal to the investigation. He admitted to tying up Kardashian but denies orchestrating the robbery, claiming he was approached by a “sponsor” who was tipped off by an insider close to Kardashian.
Khedache’s lawyer says his client now suffers from serious hearing and speech issues, requiring him to communicate in writing. Another defendant, Didier Dubreucq, 69, known as “Blue Eyes,” is accused of being one of the masked men in Kardashian’s room, a claim he denies. Meanwhile, 71-year-old Yunice Abbas allegedly waited in the lobby during the heist. Abbas later authored a controversial book titled “I Kidnapped Kim Kardashian.”
The group also includes alleged accomplices and informants. One of them is Gary Madar, the brother of Kardashian’s long-time Paris chauffeur, accused of providing her location details — allegations he denies.
Despite significant media interest, defence lawyer Margot Pugliese emphasized the need for composed legal proceedings, stating the trial “must allow for calm debates.” The trial is expected to continue through May 23.
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