Photo Credit: Getty Images
Kim Kardashian gave a powerful and emotional testimony in a Paris courtroom on Tuesday, nearly nine years after she was robbed at gunpoint during Paris Fashion Week in October 2016. The incident, which saw masked gunmen steal approximately $10 million worth of jewellery from her luxury hotel suite, marked one of France's most high-profile robberies in recent decades.
Kardashian, now 44, described the traumatic ordeal in detail. At around 3 a.m., two men dressed as police officers burst into her apartment at the Hôtel de Pourtalès, dragging the hotel's night concierge, who had been handcuffed and gagged. The robbers demanded her engagement ring and other jewellery, using the concierge to translate their demands. At the time, Kardashian was alone and wearing only a bathrobe.
She was bound with zip ties and tape, her hands and legs restrained, and a gun was held to her head. Overwhelmed with fear, Kardashian thought she would be raped and murdered. "I absolutely thought I was going to die," she told the court. She mentally prepared herself for death, even praying that her loved ones would be able to carry on if they found her body.
Kardashian said her robe opened during the struggle, leaving her exposed, further heightening her fear. One of the men ultimately tied her legs instead of assaulting her, before the group fled with her belongings. She managed to free herself and get help from her friend and stylist, Simone Harouche, who was staying on a lower floor. The two women fled to a balcony and hid in bushes while calling for help.
The star explained how the trauma from the robbery changed her life. She now suffers from anxiety, requires multiple security guards at her home in Los Angeles, and developed a fear of going out. "Everything changed," she said.
During her testimony, Kardashian faced several of the accused, including Aomar Ait Khedache, 71, who had previously apologized in a letter. In a moment of grace, Kardashian forgave him, saying, "I do appreciate it, I forgive you... but it doesn't change the emotion, the feelings, and the trauma." She did not acknowledge the others contesting the charges, including her former driver, Gary Madar, who is accused of tipping off the robbers.
She expressed particular anger at Yunice Abbas, a defendant who published a book titled "I Kidnapped Kim Kardashian", profiting off the crime. "Not only did he do this, but now he's making money off my memories and the jewellery I'll never get back," she said, citing the sentimental value of items like a watch gifted by her late father.
Her testimony underscored her dedication to justice and her aspirations to become a lawyer. "This is my closure," she said, emphasizing the importance of victims having their voices heard. "It was terrifying and life-changing, and I don't wish that kind of terror on anyone — not even my worst enemy."
Ten people — nine men and one woman — are on trial for the armed robbery, kidnapping, and possession of weapons. Most of the suspects are now elderly, earning them the media nickname "Grandpa Robbers." Only one item — a $24,000 diamond pendant — has been recovered; it was found in a gutter the next day.
