The trial of ten suspects began in Paris on Monday, with charges stemming from the infamous 2016 gunpoint robbery of US celebrity Kim Kardashian. The heist, which occurred during Paris Fashion Week, saw the reality TV star and influencer subjected to terrifying threats and the theft of over $10 million worth of jewellery. Kardashian, now 44, will testify at the trial on May 13, marking a significant moment in the case.
The accused are mostly men in their 60s and 70s, many of whom have prior criminal records and underworld nicknames like “Old Omar” and “Blue Eyes,” evoking the figures of 1960s and 1970s French crime films. On the night of the robbery, Kardashian, aged 35 at the time, was bound and gagged at gunpoint in her Paris hotel room. The thieves, who arrived on bicycles, made off with jewellery, including a diamond engagement ring valued at $4 million. Despite the theft, only one piece the necklace was recovered, found in the street after being dropped by the perpetrators.
The theft is regarded as one of the largest of its kind in France in the past two decades. Investigators traced the suspects through DNA evidence, and while the gold was melted down and much of the stolen jewellery was likely sold in Belgium, the investigation shed light on the detailed planning of the crime. It is believed that Kardashian’s frequent social media posts about her wealth and whereabouts may have provided the criminals with the necessary information.
Aomar Ait Khedache, 68, known as “Old Omar,” is considered the main suspect. He has admitted to tying up Kardashian but denies being the mastermind, claiming he was led by an informant close to the star. Other key suspects include Didier Dubreucq, 69, and Yunice Abbas, 71, who controversially wrote a book titled I Kidnapped Kim Kardashian following the crime.
With the trial now underway, the legal proceedings are expected to bring clarity to the events of that fateful night, as Kardashian’s testimony looms large.
