Background and Key Players
The trial for the high-profile jewelry heist targeting reality TV star and businesswoman Kim Kardashian during the 2016 Paris Fashion Week commenced in Paris on Monday. The case, presided over by Judge David De Pas, is expected to continue until May 23 at the historic Palais de Justice.
Kim Kardashian, 44, was not present for the first day of the trial. She plans to testify in person on May 13. Among the ten accused are nine men and one woman, all averaging around 60 years old at the time of the robbery. Now, many have gray hair, and some use canes or hearing aids.
Key Accused Individuals
Aomar Ait Khedache, known as “Omar the Clever,” is set to turn 69 and has lost both his hearing and speech. His responses are transcribed by stenographers as he writes on a projector displaying his words. Occasionally, he raises his thumb to indicate agreement.
Didier Dubreucq, a former boxer nicknamed “Blue Eyes,” received court authorization to attend chemotherapy sessions. Three accused were granted permission by the court president to leave the courtroom for bathroom breaks as needed.
Christiane Glotin, 78, and Yunice Abbas, 71, are also among the accused. Glotin has expressed a desire to apologize to Kardashian, according to her defense.
The Heist Details
On October 3, 2016, around 3:00 AM, two masked gunmen broke into Kardashian’s hotel room in Paris during Fashion Week. They pointed a gun at her, with one speaker reportedly having a strong French accent and demanding her ring.
The ring was a $4 million engagement ring given to her by then-husband Kanye West. Kardashian frequently shared her whereabouts on social media, making her an easy target for what the press dubbed “the senior bandits” – individuals around 60 years old at the time.
Ait Khedache, identified by his DNA, admitted to binding Kardashian but denied being the mastermind. He described the heist as “easy work” rather than a violent armed robbery.
“Old-School Bandits”
The robbery, lasting about ten minutes, left Kardashian traumatized. The thieves stole $10 million worth of jewelry, making it one of the largest thefts from an individual in France over the past 20 years.
Of the stolen goods, only a necklace was found discarded on the street during their escape. Investigators believe most of the jewelry was melted down and sold in Belgium. The “old-school bandits” were apprehended three months after the heist.
Kardashian’s Influence and the Thieves’ Lack of Awareness
Kardashian, a reality TV star and influential entrepreneur with 84 million Instagram followers in 2016 (now over 357 million), was targeted by individuals seemingly unaware of her true identity. They threatened the hotel concierge, asking for “the wife of the rapper,” only realizing their mistake afterward when they saw the international media attention surrounding the crime.
