Kim Kardashian to testify in Paris multi-million-dollar robbery trial
Ten suspects have been on trial since late April over the armed robbery in 2016, which saw jewellery worth some $10 million stolen from the reality TV star and influencer.
The trial has attracted huge media attention, with close to 500 reporters accredited, and the courthouse on Paris's historic Ile de la Cite is expected to come under siege from fans hoping for a glimpse of the celebrity.
Kardashian is ready to "confront" her Paris attackers, her lawyers said last week.
"She is committed to attending in person," French lawyers Leonor Hennerick and Jonathan Mattout told AFP last week, saying she would do so "with dignity and courage".
She is due to take the stand at 2pm, and is expected to speak to the press afterwards.
On the night of October 2-3, 2016, Kardashian, then 35, was robbed while staying at an exclusive, discreet hotel in central Paris.
She was threatened with a gun to the head and tied up with her mouth taped.
Lawyers have not divulged what exactly Kardashian, who has been keeping abreast of developments at the trial, will say in her court appearance.
During what the French press has dubbed the "heist of the century", masked men walked away with millions of dollars' worth of jewels.
They included a diamond ring given to Kardashian by her then-husband, rapper Kanye West, and valued at €3.5 million.
The theft was the most valuable to target a private individual in France in 20 years.
Those on trial are mainly men in their 60s and 70s with previous criminal records.
They have underworld nicknames like "Old Omar" and "Blue Eyes" that resemble those of old-school French bandits of 1960s and 1970s films noirs.
"They're quite a team," said investigator Michel Malecot.
"But they made some mistakes", he said, notably by leaving DNA that allowed investigators to identify them.
Advertisement
'Crying hysterically'
Sixty-eight-year-old Aomar Ait Khedache, known as "Old Omar", has admitted to tying up Kardashian but denies being the mastermind behind the robbery.
Another suspect in the dock, 71-year-old Yunice Abbas, later wrote a book about the heist.
In it he describes how his bag became caught in the wheel of his escape vehicle, a bicycle, causing him to fall off and have to scramble to shove the loot back in the bag.
Investigators said a man called Gary Madar, the brother of Kardashian's driver in Paris, tipped the suspects off that Kardashian was "in French territory".
This allegation has been ridiculed by Madar's lawyer, who remarked that 350 million online followers were already aware of the star's whereabouts.
The night of the robbery could have gone very differently had Kardashian joined her sister Kourtney and gone clubbing, an idea she entertained before deciding to stay in the hotel, the court heard last week.
Advertisement
Her designated driver, Michael Madar -- whose company was billing the Kardashian/West couple up to €400,000 per year to provide security -- had been working non-stop for 21 hours and asked a colleague to replace him for the trip to the night club.
The replacement, Mohammed Q., and a Kardashian bodyguard, Pascal D., rushed back to the hotel after Kardashian tried to call them and then failed to pick up her phone when they called back.
"I saw that the lift was on the first floor, where Kim was staying," Pascal D. told the court.
When he found her, Kardashian "was in a terrible state. She was crying hysterically", he told the court.
"I asked what had happened, and she said she'd been robbed."
Kardashian, her lawyers said, "is genuinely grateful" for the way the French authorities have handled the investigation, showing her "the utmost respect and consideration".
The US celebrity, sometimes described as being "famous for being famous", became well known in the early 2000s through TV reality shows, before launching fashion brands and appearing in a number of films.
She is among the world's most followed people on Instagram and X.
She has been named among the 100 most influential people by Time magazine, and among the most powerful women by Fortune magazine.
The trial is set to close on May 23rd.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
France 24
4 hours ago
- France 24
Retired great Hakuho says leaving sumo after bullying scandal
"It has been 25 years of being loved by sumo and loving sumo," the Mongolian-born Hakuho told reporters, confirming that he was "leaving the Japan Sumo Association". He won a record 45 tournaments before retiring from competition in 2021 to coach wrestlers, but his stable was indefinitely shut in April last year. Hakuho was handed an embarrassing demotion for failing to control the behaviour of Hokuseiho, who allegedly punched his lower-ranked stablemates and stole money from them. Hakuho, 40, said Monday he "cried a lot" over the situation. Japanese media reports said last week that the Japan Sumo Association, which declined to comment at the time, had accepted Hakuho's resignation. Hakuho said Monday he was "moving on to a new dream" and that in the future "I intend to focus on projects to expand sumo to the world". "Sumo was originally a shinto ritual to commemorate peace, national security and a good harvest," he said. Born Munkhbat Davaajargal, Hakuho moved to Japan aged 15 and made his sumo debut in 2001. He won his first top-division title in 2006 and went on to fight at the sport's highest rank of yokozuna more times than anyone in history. © 2025 AFP
Fashion Network
6 hours ago
- Fashion Network
Printemps hosts Perelman Performing Arts Center announcement of DVF as next Icon of Culture
Having only been in lower Manhattan for under four months, Printemps New York is proving its good neighbor status and dedication to the Financial District. The French retailer opened its doors for an event to kick off the buzz for this fall's annual Perelman Performing Arts Center, aka PAC NYC's Icon of Culture Gala. Hosted by PAC chair and former Big Apple hizzoner Michael R. Bloomberg; supermodel, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Karlie Kloss; and Printemps Americas CEO, Thierry Prevost, the cocktail announced iconic fashion legend and Légion d'Honneur recipient Diane Von Furstenberg as the 2025 PAC NYC Icon of Culture at the upcoming October black-tie event to benefit the newly opened arts center. The event marks the second Icons of Culture fundraising gala. The kickoff event was held in the new French store—designed by French architect Laura Gonzales that defies the department store moniker— in its famous Red Room shoe salon and adjacent bar, one of five food and beverage locales in the store. While Von Furstenberg was out of town and unable to attend, DVF Studio's CEO, Graziano de Boni, and his wife, Valerie, and VP of philanthropy, Luisella Meloni, showed up in support of the pioneer female fashion designer. Von Furstenberg is being honored not only for her contributions to the city but her 50-year impact on fashion and her role as a mentor and advocate for girls and women around the world. Speaking to a crowd which included Fern Mallis, Derek Blasberg, Drena De Niro, Samantha and Caleigh Perelman, and Born This Way Foundation president and co-founder Cynthia Germanotta, and Lady Gaga's mother. Bloomberg called von Furstenberg "a towering figure in the arts and culture here in New York," adding, "She's one of the most influential names in fashion, an industry at the heart of our city's economy. She's been a tireless advocate for the industry and a generous philanthropist with her leadership on public projects like the High Line and the Statue of Liberty Museum. She's deeply committed to our city, and her support and investment have helped build a bright future here." Following his remarks, a visibly pregnant Karlie Kloss, a longtime collaborator and friend of von Furstenberg, spoke about her relationship with the designer. "I first met Diane when I was 15 years old in New York, and I remember being enamored with her elegance, her confidence, and her style. Diane has been one of my fiercest champions and greatest teachers throughout my career. I've learned so much from her, but especially to be unapologetically myself. She has shown us all what a purposeful life looks like, and I can't think of anyone more deserving of this award," said Kloss. Thierry Prevost, CEO of Printemps Americas, emphasized the brand's commitment to the downtown neighborhood: "Printemps is proud to contribute to the renewal of Lower Manhattan, a neighborhood whose vitality owes much to the vision and leadership of Mike Bloomberg. We're equally honored to host PAC at Printemps New York ahead of their October Icons of Culture Gala. This year, they have named Diane von Furstenberg - an icon of fashion and culture, and a woman whose bold spirit and lasting influence personify the values we stand for - as the 2025 award recipient." Provost reiterated the sentiment of Printemps's chairman Jean-Marc Bellaiche, who spoke to at the store's March opening about the area that "boasts Casa Cipriani, a performing arts center, fashion brands like Altuzarra and the cool crowd over at WSA, another architectural gem, the Beekman Hotel, good schools, green spaces, and Jean Georges Tin Building." At the time, Bellaiche doubled down on his conviction of the area. "We are convinced that this is a neighborhood of tomorrow. It's up and coming. It's more and more residential. The people and businesses that were here are different than 15 years ago. Now, it's not just bankers; it's fashion, it's tech, it's media, and it's all here. It's a vibrant community that is becoming more attractive for any New Yorker," he said. The 108th mayor of New York City was the connector for the event and spearheaded bringing the creatives together. Bloomberg's dedication to the area began when his term started in January of 2002, as the city was still reeling from the 9/11 attacks. The then-mayor and his administration were determined to bring the area back together and make it bigger and better, developing the typically work-only area into a 24-hour neighborhood with housing, parks, and new businesses. Part of the plan was the arts. The idea came to fruition with the help of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, who made the first central pledge, and Ronald Perelman, for which it was named. PAC NYC brings vibrant dancers, musicians, artists, filmmakers, and other creators from across New York City for performances and exhibitions.
Fashion Network
6 hours ago
- Fashion Network
First-ever Hermès Birkin handbag to be auctioned in Paris in July
The first Birkin handbag, designed especially for Jane Birkin in 1984, will be auctioned in Paris on July 10, the last day of Haute Couture Week, announced auction house Sotheby's on Thursday. The large black leather tote, the original version of one of the world's most celebrated and expensive handbags, will be the 'signature item' in Sotheby's 'Fashion Icons' auction, as Sotheby's said in a press release. The handbag will be exhibited to the public at Sotheby's gallery in New York on June 6-12, ahead of its final presentation at the auction house's Parisian offices in the 8th arrondissement, on July 3-9. The 'historic handmade prototype,' engraved with the initials J.B., is distinctive for several peculiarities that make it a unique piece: its size, the closed metal rings, the non-detachable shoulder strap, and the incorporated nail clipper. Jane Birkin was undoubtedly a fashion icon, but she was keen on practicality above all. On a Paris to London flight, the British singer-actress, who died in 2023, complained with a fellow passenger of not being able to find a handbag that fit the needs of a young mother. The fellow passenger was none other than Jean-Louis Dumas, then boss of Hermès. A tote bag with a pouch for baby bottles was launched by Hermès in 1984, and was named Birkin. Forty years later, the Birkin leather handbag has become the French luxury house's most iconic product. It is manufactured in very small quantities to foster its exclusive image. Its prices can vary greatly, from a few thousand euro for the simplest models, to several hundred thousand euros for the most luxurious ones. In addition to the Birkin handbag, the auction will feature iconic items from runway shows by designers such as Christian Dior, John Galliano, Thierry Mugler and Alexander McQueen. The auction will start online from June 26, and will continue until the closing date of July 10.
