Kim Kardashian 'grandpa robber', 69, dies a month after his conviction
's 'grandpa robber' has died a month after he was convicted of stealing jewellery worth $10million from the reality television star.
Didier Dubreucq, 69, was diagnosed with lung cancer during pre-trial detention and had been undergoing chemotherapy.
He was among ten suspects to be tried earlier this year for stealing jewels from the star, including a huge diamond ring from her now ex-husband, rapper Kanye West.
Dubreucq, who police nicknamed 'Blue Eyes' due to his piercing gaze, was accused of being the second person who stormed into Kim's hotel room on October 2, 2016, but he denied the charges.
A Paris court last month sentenced him to seven years in jail, including five suspended, for the robbery.
He was absent for the ruling as he was undergoing chemotherapy, and did not return to jail as he had already served his two years in pre-trial detention.
In April, he had however turned up in court after a chemotherapy session to say he had 'nothing to do' with the theft.
He said he did not like to be labelled an 'armed robber' despite having served a 23-year sentence for past armed robberies.
He rejection suggestions that he is a 'thug' and said: 'I'm a good guy.'
Since becoming a father at the age of 50, Dubreucq added that he had put an end to his 'big mistakes' of the past.
None of the eight people convicted last month returned to jail, including 69-year-old ringleader Aomar Ait Khedache, because of the time they had spent behind bars while awaiting trial.
A few hours after the verdict, Dubreucq addressed the court in a letter read by his lawyer.
He wrote: 'I never participated in this jewelry theft. You don't condemn a man on the altar of suspicion and doubt.'
Dubreucq even addressed a few words Kim, who was held captive and gagged during the robbery, as well as to Abderrahmane Ouatiki, a receptionist at the hotel where the star was staying at the time of the events.
He said: 'The ordeal they endured deeply disturbed them, and I felt the trauma they are experiencing today in their voices. It did not leave me indifferent. I dare to hope that in time they will find the path to healing.'
The audacious early hours raid in October 2016 took place at the height of Paris Fashion Week, and at the height of the socialite's fame.
Kim was alone in the penthouse apartment of her hotel, dozing on the bed in a silk nightgown, when two men disguised as policemen burst into the room and held a gun to her head.
The celebrity was bound and gagged, 'like a sausage' and dumped in the bath of her ensuite bathroom while robbers spent 49 minutes snatching millions of pounds worth of gems and watches including her 18.88 carat diamond engagement ring.
As they fled, one robber dropped a platinum cross adorned with diamonds that was recovered the following morning.
A visibly traumatised Kim fled the country by private jet after giving a brief statement to French detectives and was consoled by then husband Kanye who halted a concert, telling fans he had a 'family emergency'.
In the intervening years, the mother told how she feared for her life and cried: 'Don't kill me, I have babies!'
Kim has been denied justice for years, with delays on bringing the case to court blamed on the priority of high-profile terrorist trials.
There were also fears that the publicity of this trial would destroy Paris' reputation as a high-class tourist destination ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games.
But last month the reality TV star re-lived her terrifying ordeal that occurred almost nine years ago when she gave evidence in the trial.
A career criminal known as 'Old Omar' was accused of masterminding the heist that was France's highest value robbery in a decade.
Omar's 79-year-old mistress Christiane 'Cathy' Glotin was also said to be involved.
Old Omar denied being the mastermind of the heist. He instead said another man, who he refused to name, presented the opportunity to him.
He claimed this man presented detailed plans, including layouts of the hotel building and pictures of Kim wearing the prized jewellery.
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The Guardian
43 minutes ago
- The Guardian
‘Smooth with a sinister edge': readers on who the next James Bond should be
Bond should have an element of danger about him. So yes Tom Hardy immediately springs to mind. I also think Tom Hiddleston would be good at a more lighter touch Bond though, the Roger Moore to Hardy's Connery. All the other candidates either sound way to young or in the case of Idris Elba, great actor though he is, a bit old for the role. machinehead Whilst Idris and Tom Hardy would undoubtedly have been excellent – Tom Hardy, in particular, has that undercurrent of menace that Connery always carried – as, I think, would Christian Bale, their time has passed. I did think Nicholas Hoult might be a reasonable pick, though possibly too 'pretty'. But were I casting it, my money would go on Jack O'Connell: right age, English, dashing and could probably do rugged, thuggish violence if SAS Rogue Heroes is any guide. EvanByrne2 Ten years ago I'd have said Tom Hardy was a gimme, I think he still has the action chops for it, but is now over 50 so … Norton as the first ginger Bond? I reckon he's a good shout, Richard Madden and Kit Harington have also got to be in with a shout having both done pretty well in spy caper action roles before. DezzyDisco Jack O'Connell. Very impressed with his Paddy Mayne in SAS Rogue Heroes. The right blend of charm and danger. JudeScorpio I never would have believed that I would ever have typed the names James Bond and Eddie Redmayne in the same sentence. It would have been a bit like suggesting Kenneth Williams should on the shortlist. However, Mr Redmayne was chillingly good in The Jackal and he would be a very different kind of cold and calculating Bond. Nigeleastsussex I think the next one needs to be JANE BOND. Since fact is stranger than fiction, there are plenty of real life examples of heroic women of the cold war intelligence/espionage world, from which an excellent writer can draw upon. An exemplary performance was provided by Noomi Rapace in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009). Consider the economic success of the Wonder Woman movies – which may be difficult for Bezos to grasp. NotACustomer Definitely James Norton. He has the looks, the acting skills and experience and would be perfect as the next 007. christinen101 No more Bonds, for Heaven's sake! They lost the plot, over-hyped the character, killed any humour or charm and turned Bond into some kind of American action cartoon. Just watch Dr No or something and move on. fabcat21 Matthew Goode. I have nothing to add. Riotsnotdiets Hugh Laurie, obviously. He can play anything, especially upper-class Englishmen who can morph into convincing Americans when required. Erbium Boris Kodjoe! Handsome, tall, fit, wryly funny, and a pretty decent actor. Knowitallie I quite like the idea of Tom Ellis. He would be smooth after Daniel Craig's more gritty performance. I guess more in the Roger Moore range. But with Denis Villeneuve in the director's chair not sure it would work. Tom Hiddleston would also make a good choice. MillyTant I think George MacKay (1917) would make a great Bond. He's got that look that mixes vague meanness with woolly competence, so he could fit all kinds of different scenarios. Trying to replace Daniel Craig (RIP) with another toughie street fighter would be too easy. I think MacKay also adds a spoonful of the eccentric enigmatic, would make him tough to pin down but still quite vulnerable. studious1 Tom Hiddleston. Another visceral actor would just look shite compared to Craig so I would go for a more cerebral Bond but with enough gravitas to stop it looking like a parody (unlike Brosnan). FeedTheEnemy Chris Hemsworth might be a good option. Depends if they want to go hardcore like Craig's Casino Royale or if they want to ham it up like Roger Moore's tenure. TheMrGaffer Jack Lowden would be a good shout. 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Telegraph
an hour ago
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In February, he was announced as the new creative head of Dior Men, later confirming that he would take over not just the menswear but the women's ready-to-wear, couture, resort collections and accessories. That might sound standard, but it's not – houses traditionally split the workload of the two, and Dior is a French national treasure with the output to match. No designer has worked at this prolific level since Karl Lagerfeld, who famously split his time between Chanel, designing for Fendi, and his own line. Anderson's aware of what has gone before: John Galliano's infamous departure from the house following an anti-Semitic rant, which he later claimed was the result of a substance abuse-fuelled, cataclysmic burnout. But if he has butterflies at the task ahead, he's not showing it. 'I can't say that I'm not nervous or I'm not petrified – this is Dior and we are in France after all – but I'm really focusing on trying to enjoy it. I'm relaxed, I'm ready,' he says. 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The Independent
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