Ten people go on trial Monday in Paris over the 2016 robbery of the American reality television star and influencer Kim Kardashian, who lost some $10 million worth of jewellery in the biggest theft against a private individual in France in the past 20 years.
Dubbed the “grandpa robbers” by the French media, those on trial are mainly older men in their 60s and 70s who have previous criminal records.
On the night of 3 October 2016, two armed and masked men stormed into Kardashian’s room in an exclusive hotel in central Paris, after arriving by bicycle.
They shouted that they wanted the $4 million (€3.5 million) diamond engagement ring from her now ex-husband, the US rapper Kayne West, which she had been showing off on social media.
They allegedly held a gun to Kardashian’s head, tied her up and taped her mouth shut, leaving her traumatised after making off with the ring among €8.9 million worth of jewellery.
Who knew what, and how?
The trial will also go into how the perpetrators received information about where the celebrity was staying during Paris Fashion Week and picked the very moment when her bodyguard was absent, accompanying her sister Kourtney to a night club.
It is thought Kardashian's frequent posts about her wealth, personal life and whereabouts may have facilitated the perpetrators' actions.
Ten charged for Paris Kardashian robbery
The suspects were arrested three months after the robbery, through DNA evidence.
Twelve people were eventually charged, while only ten go on trial on Monday. One died in March this year and another is to be tried separately for health reasons.
Ageing suspects
The main suspect, Aomar Ait Khedache, 68, known as "Old Omar", whose DNA from the scene helped investigators find him and the other suspects, called the theft “easy”.
He admitted tying up Kardashian, but disputes investigators' claims that he was the mastermind behind the robbery.
He says he was approached by someone else who had suggested the scheme on behalf of someone close to the star.
Louis Vuitton outlet in Paris ram-raided in overnight robbery
According to his lawyer, Khedache now has severe hearing and speaking problems and can only express himself in writing.
Didier Dubreucq, 69, known as "Blue Eyes", is accused of being the second person who stormed into Kardashian's room. He denies the charges.
Yunice Abbas, 71, meanwhile, allegedly stayed in the lobby, and later wrote a book about the crime, entitled "I Kidnapped Kim Kardashian".
Kardashian to testify
Others on trial are accused of being facilitators and informants, including Gary Madar, the brother of Kardashian's long-serving Paris driver.
He is accused of supplying information about her movements, which he denies.
The trial is due to last until 23 May, with Kardashian, who is now 44, due to testify on 13 May in a court appearance that will be a major event in itself.
(with AFP)
