Nearly eight years after enduring a harrowing armed robbery during Paris Fashion Week, Kim Kardashian is set to testify in person as the trial of 10 defendants opens in Paris on Monday. The proceedings will revisit the night of October 2, 2016, when the reality television star was bound, gagged, and robbed of more than $6 million in jewelry inside her private residence.
The trial, scheduled to run until May 23, marks a significant moment for Kardashian, who has largely reserved public comment about the upcoming testimony. Her legal team issued a statement emphasizing her respect for the French legal system, noting, “Ms. Kardashian is reserving her testimony for the court and jury and does not wish to elaborate further at this time. She wishes the trial to proceed in an orderly fashion, in accordance with French law and with respect for all parties to the case.”
A Night of Terror: Kardashian’s Ordeal
Kardashian’s account of that night, shared previously in interviews and on her family’s reality show, paints a chilling picture. Armed assailants broke into her Paris accommodation, located at a private luxury residence, and stormed her bedroom. In a 2020 interview with David Letterman, she emotionally recalled fearing for her life, saying she thought she would be raped and killed.
“This is the time I’m going to get raped,” she remembered thinking, adding that she mentally pleaded with the attackers to spare her life because she had children and a family.
According to police reports, Kardashian was taken into a bathroom adjacent to her bedroom and restrained with tape across her hands, feet, and mouth. Despite the trauma, she managed to free herself after the attackers fled, rushing to her stylist’s room for help. She immediately contacted her sister, Kourtney Kardashian, to recount the ordeal. While physically unharmed, Kardashian filed an immediate police report and sought to leave France urgently to reunite with her children.
The Investigation: ‘Granddad Robbers’ on Trial
Initially, 12 individuals were expected to stand trial, but the case now includes 10 defendants — one having passed away and another declared medically unfit to be tried. Five of the accused are alleged to have been physically present at the crime scene.
Dubbed by the French press as the “Granddad Robbers” due to their advanced ages and notorious criminal backgrounds, the group includes several figures with long histories of theft and robbery:
- Aomar Aït Khedache, 68, known as “Old Omar,” is suspected of orchestrating the robbery. His DNA was reportedly found on the tape used to gag Kardashian. Authorities say he fled the scene on a bicycle before meeting his son at a nearby train station.
- Didier Dubreucq, 69, nicknamed “Blue Eyes,” is believed to be the second man who entered Kardashian’s apartment, though he denies involvement despite CCTV footage and phone records allegedly linking him to the crime.
- Yunice Abbas, 71, admitted to serving as a lookout at the residence’s reception area. Although he claims he was unarmed and did not threaten Kardashian directly, he acknowledged shared responsibility for the crime. Abbas later co-authored a book titled “I Sequestered Kim Kardashian” after serving 21 months in prison.
According to the investigation, at least one assailant was armed with a handgun and used it to threaten Kardashian and the concierge. The robbers made off with numerous valuable pieces of jewelry, including a diamond ring worth an estimated $6 million. Only one item—a diamond cross pendant—has been recovered after it was dropped during their getaway.
Additional defendants are accused of roles such as providing Kardashian’s location to the robbers and facilitating the laundering of the stolen goods, some of which allegedly passed through Antwerp’s diamond district in Belgium.
Why This Trial Matters
The robbery stunned the world, not only for its brazenness but also for highlighting vulnerabilities in celebrity security, especially during high-profile events like Paris Fashion Week. It also triggered a reexamination of the relationship between celebrity culture, social media sharing, and personal security risks. Kardashian, who had been frequently posting her location and possessions on social media, drastically changed her online behavior after the attack.
The trial serves not only as a pursuit of justice for Kardashian and the concierge who was also held hostage, but also as a public reckoning for high-profile crimes targeting global celebrities.
Looking Ahead:
The court is expected to hear testimony from Kardashian in the coming days, along with detailed accounts from law enforcement and the accused. Given the length of the proceedings and the number of defendants, the trial could have broader implications on France’s handling of celebrity-targeted crimes and influence future security measures during international events.
User Intent Summary (What Readers Want to Know):
- What happened: Kim Kardashian was tied up and robbed in Paris in 2016.
- Why it matters: The robbery exposed celebrity security risks and reshaped Kardashian’s public behavior.
- What’s next: Kardashian is set to testify; the trial will examine responsibility among the 10 accused.
- Key details: Elderly defendants (“Granddad Robbers”), over $6M stolen jewelry, security lapses, and unresolved losses.
