Latest news with #AssizeCourt


Scottish Sun
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
‘Grandpa Robbers' who zip-tied Kim Kardashian at gunpoint as she begged for life found GUILTY 10yrs on from Paris raid
A GANG of "grandpa robbers" who zip-tied Kim Kardashian at gunpoint nine years ago before fleeing with jewellery worth millions have been found guilty by a French court. Ten suspects have been on trial since last month over the 2016 gunpoint mugging, which saw the A-list celebrity lose $10million worth of valuables in Paris. 8 Kim Kardashian leaves the Assize Court after testifying in a trial over the 2016 robbery Credit: AFP 8 Suspected ringleader Aomar Ait Khedache Credit: Splash 8 Yunice Abbas, one of the men accused of robbing Kim, has expressed regret Credit: Splash Of the 10 people being tried, five are on trial for armed robbery and kidnap charges, while the rest are on for complicity in the heist or possession of a weapon. At the heart of the trial was 70-year-old Aomar At Khedache, a veteran of the Paris criminal underworld. Wiretaps captured him giving orders, recruiting accomplices, and arranging to sell the diamonds in Belgium. The loot was never found. His DNA, found on the zip-ties used to bind Kardashian, cracked open the case. Khedache today begged for forgiveness before a jury and offered "a thousand pardons" to the reality TV star. The 'heist of the century' trial came nine years after the robbers stormed Kim's luxury residence during the 2016 Paris Fashion Week. Masked men dressed as police entered Kardashian's Paris home, bound her with zip-ties and vanished with $10 million in jewels. Kim was left pleading for her life during the attack after they bound her hands and feet, and taped her mouth - known as sausaging someone in French. Most of the stolen valuables were never recovered, including a diamond ring given to Kardashian by her then-husband, rapper Kanye West. The ring alone was valued at $3.9million, and the robbery was the biggest against a private individual in France in 20 years. They then carried her to the bathtub wearing only her dressing gown. When the robbers fled, Kim freed herself by scraping the tape on her wrists off against the sink, then she hid with her friend, shaking and barefoot. The terrifying ordeal led to the Kardashian family changing how much they share of their lavish lifestyles on social media. Nine years after the raid, Kim made an emotional appearance at the trial of 10 people who are accused of being involved in the traumatic burglary. Kim Kardashian's ex-bodyguard was right to leave her before Paris robbery, his lawyer says Her testimony earlier this month was the emotional high point in the trial. In a packed courtroom, she recounted how she was thrown onto a bed, zip-tied, and had a gun pressed to her on the night of the robbery. She broke down as she said: "I absolutely did think I was going to die, she said. I have babies. I have to make it home. "They can take everything. I just have to make it home." The elderly gang - now in their 60s and 70s - had been inspired by Kim's flashy posts online showing off her bling. A chauffeur allegedly told them that she was alone in her secluded hotel room in the 8th arrondissement during Fashion Week. It was supposed to be one final job for the veteran robbers who each had a string of convictions. They claimed not to know who the social media influencer was but instead demanded the concierge take them to 'the rapper's wife'. 8 8 Kim Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Lauren Sanchez and Eva Longoria selfie in Paris Credit: Instagram In an emotionally charged moment in the courtroom, Judge David Du Pas read out a letter from suspected ringleader Aomar Ait Khedache. The letter read: 'Madame, after seeing you in a French TV show and seeing your emotion and realising what psychological harm I did to you, that I decided to write to you. 'Not with the aim of getting forgiveness... I want to tell you human to human how I regret my actions and how I was touched to see you cry... "I am sorry for the pain I caused you, your husband, you children and those who love you." Kim's tearful testimony by Julia Atherley, from Paris KIM Kardashian wept as she told a French courtroom that she thought she was about to die during a terrifying diamond heist before offering forgiveness to her robbers. The celebrity, 44, had $10 million worth of jewellery stolen by a gang of masked robbers while she was tied up and had a gun held to her back during Paris fashion week in 2016. Nine years after the raid, Kim made an emotional appearance at the trial of 10 people who are accused of being involved in the traumatic burglary. Supported in court by her mum, Kris Jenner, 69, she broke down as she described the moment she thought the men who had broken into her hotel room were about to rape and shoot her. Speaking of her terror as she was thrown onto her hotel bed at gunpoint, naked under her hotel robe, she said: 'The robe opens up and everything is exposed on my bottom half. 'I was certain that was the moment he was going to rape me. He pulled me towards him and I said a prayer and tried to mentally prepare myself.' She added: 'I absolutely did think I was going to die. 'I was on the bed and then one of them had the gun up to me and at that point that's when they were going to shoot me, that's when I was certain that they would shoot me." Kim's friend and stylist Simone Harouche, 45, was in a downstairs bedroom during the ordeal and told the court she could hear Kim screaming in 'terror'. She said: 'I was afraid that she was raped or violated and I feared the worst. 'It was terror. What I heard specifically was 'I have babies and I need to live'. That was what she kept saying. 'Take everything, I need to live'. It has taken almost 10 years for the 10 defendants to be brought to court, with Covid lockdowns and a backlog of terrorism cases in the French justice system blamed. Kardashian broke down in tears while the letter was read out, and was handed a tissue by a member of her legal team, before telling career criminal Khedache that she forgives him. She told the court: 'I do appreciate the letter for sure. I do appreciate it. I forgive you for what had taken place. "But it doesn't change the emotion and the trauma and the way that my life had forever changed. 'But I do appreciate the letter, so thank you.' In a handwritten note in response, Khedache - who is deaf and mute - wrote: "Your forgiveness is a sunshine that has enlightened me... I am forever grateful." 8 Kim Kardashian, accompanied by her mother Kris Jenner, left court after a gruelling afternoon Credit: AP 8 A court sketch shows Kim testifying at court Credit: Reuters 8 Kim flaunting the £3million engagement ring on Instagram Another of the defendants, Yunice Abbas, also said he regretted his part in the terrifying raid. Abbas has previously written a book about his involvement in the heist. When asked if he wanted to say anything to Kardashian, Abbas stood up and said: "Hello. I recognise your trauma. I regret my part." Kardashian, who once said this experience really changed everything, hopes the verdict will offer a measure of closure.


The Irish Sun
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
‘Grandpa Robbers' who zip-tied Kim Kardashian at gunpoint as she begged for life found GUILTY 10yrs on from Paris raid
A GANG of "grandpa robbers" who zip-tied Kim Kardashian at gunpoint nine years ago before fleeing with jewellery worth millions have been found guilty by a French court. Ten suspects have been on trial since last month over the 2016 gunpoint mugging, which saw the A-list celebrity lose $10million worth of valuables in Paris. 8 Kim Kardashian leaves the Assize Court after testifying in a trial over the 2016 robbery Credit: AFP 8 Suspected ringleader Aomar Ait Khedache Credit: Splash 8 Yunice Abbas, one of the men accused of robbing Kim, has expressed regret Credit: Splash Of the 10 people being tried, five are on trial for armed robbery and kidnap charges, while the rest are on for complicity in the heist or possession of a weapon. At the heart of the trial was 70-year-old Aomar At Khedache, a veteran of the Paris criminal underworld. Wiretaps captured him giving orders, recruiting accomplices, and arranging to sell the diamonds in Belgium. The loot was never found. His DNA, found on the zip-ties used to bind Kardashian, cracked open the case. Khedache today begged for forgiveness before a jury and offered "a thousand pardons" to the reality TV star. The 'heist of the century' trial came nine years after the robbers stormed Kim's luxury residence during the 2016 Paris Fashion Week. Masked men dressed as police entered Kardashian's Paris home, bound her with zip-ties and vanished with $10 million in jewels. Kim was left pleading for her life during the Most read in Celebrity Most of the stolen valuables were never recovered, including a diamond ring given to Kardashian by her then-husband, rapper Kanye West. The ring alone was valued at $3.9million, and the robbery was the biggest against a private individual in France in 20 years. They then carried her to the bathtub wearing only her dressing gown. When the robbers fled, Kim freed herself by scraping the tape on her wrists off against the sink, then she hid with her friend, shaking and barefoot. The terrifying ordeal led to the Kardashian family changing how much they share of their lavish lifestyles on Nine years after the raid, Kim made an emotional appearance at the trial of 10 people who are accused of being involved in the traumatic burglary. Kim Kardashian's ex-bodyguard was right to leave her before Paris robbery, his lawyer says Her testimony earlier this month was the emotional high point in the trial. In a packed courtroom, she recounted how she was thrown onto a bed, zip-tied, and had a gun pressed to her on the night of the robbery. She broke down as she said: "I absolutely did think I was going to die, she said. I have babies. I have to make it home. "They can take everything. I just have to make it home." The elderly gang - now in their 60s and 70s - had been inspired by Kim's flashy posts online showing off her bling. A chauffeur allegedly told them that she was alone in her secluded hotel room in the 8th arrondissement during Fashion Week. It was supposed to be one final job for the veteran robbers who each had a string of convictions. They claimed 8 8 Kim Kardashian, Kris Jenner, Lauren Sanchez and Eva Longoria selfie in Paris Credit: Instagram In an emotionally charged moment in the courtroom, Judge David Du Pas read out a letter from suspected ringleader Aomar Ait Khedache. The letter read: 'Madame, after seeing you in a French TV show and seeing your emotion and realising what psychological harm I did to you, that I decided to write to you. 'Not with the aim of getting forgiveness... I want to tell you human to human how I regret my actions and how I was touched to see you cry... "I am sorry for the pain I caused you, your husband, you children and those who love you." Kim's tearful testimony by Julia Atherl ey, from Paris KIM Kardashian wept as she told a French courtroom that she thought she was about to die during a terrifying diamond heist before offering forgiveness to her robbers. The celebrity, 44, had $10 million worth of jewellery stolen by a gang of masked robbers while she was tied up and had a gun held to her back during Paris fashion week in 2016. Nine years after the raid, Kim made an emotional appearance at the trial of 10 people who are accused of being involved in the traumatic burglary. Supported in court by her mum, Kris Jenner, 69, she broke down as she described the moment she thought the men who had broken into her hotel room were about to rape and shoot her. Speaking of her terror as she was thrown onto her hotel bed at gunpoint, naked under her hotel robe, she said: 'The robe opens up and everything is exposed on my bottom half. 'I was certain that was the moment he was going to rape me. He pulled me towards him and I said a prayer and tried to mentally prepare myself.' She added: 'I absolutely did think I was going to die. 'I was on the bed and then one of them had the gun up to me and at that point that's when they were going to shoot me, that's when I was certain that they would shoot me." Kim's friend and stylist Simone Harouche, 45, was in a downstairs bedroom during the ordeal and told the court she could hear Kim screaming in 'terror'. She said: 'I was afraid that she was raped or violated and I feared the worst. 'It was terror. What I heard specifically was 'I have babies and I need to live'. That was what she kept saying. 'Take everything, I need to live'. It has taken almost 10 years for the 10 defendants to be brought to court, with Covid lockdowns and a backlog of terrorism cases in the French justice system blamed. Kardashian broke down in tears while the letter was read out, and was handed a tissue by a member of her legal team, before telling career criminal Khedache that she forgives him. She told the court: 'I do appreciate the letter for sure. I do appreciate it. I forgive you for what had taken place. "But it doesn't change the emotion and the trauma and the way that my life had forever changed. 'But I do appreciate the letter, so thank you.' In a handwritten note in response, Khedache - who is deaf and mute - wrote: "Your forgiveness is a sunshine that has enlightened me... I am forever grateful." 8 Kim Kardashian, accompanied by her mother Kris Jenner, left court after a gruelling afternoon Credit: AP 8 A court sketch shows Kim testifying at court Credit: Reuters 8 Kim flaunting the £3million engagement ring on Instagram Another of the defendants, Yunice Abbas, also said he regretted his part in the terrifying raid. Abbas has previously written a book about his involvement in the heist. Read more on the Irish Sun When asked if he wanted to say anything to Kardashian, Abbas stood up and said: "Hello. I recognise your trauma. I regret my part." Kardashian, who once said this experience really changed everything, hopes the verdict will offer a measure of closure.


Toronto Sun
23-05-2025
- Toronto Sun
Paris court finds ringleader and 7 others guilty in 2016 robbery of Kim Kardashian
Published May 23, 2025 • Last updated 3 minutes ago • 5 minute read Kim Kardashian leaves the Assize Court after testifying in a trial over the 2016 robbery that saw her relieved of millions of dollars' worth of jewelry at gunpoint in Paris, on May 13, 2025. Photo by LEO VIGNAL / AFP via Getty Images Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. PARIS — A Paris court on Friday found the ringleader and seven other people guilty in the robbery of Kim Kardashian nearly a decade ago. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The court acquitted two of the 10 defendants. The sentences being read out by the court president range from prison terms to fines. Aomar Ait Khedache, 69, the ringleader, got the stiffest sentence, eight years imprisonment but five of those are suspended. Three others who were accused on the most serious charges got seven years, five of them suspended. Khedache arrived at court walking with a stick, his face hidden from cameras. His DNA, found on the bands used to bind Kardashian, was a key breakthrough that helped crack open the case. Wiretaps captured him giving orders, recruiting accomplices and arranging to sell the diamonds in Belgium. A diamond-encrusted cross, dropped during the escape, was the only piece of jewelry ever recovered. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The crime took place on the night of Oct. 2, 2016 during Paris Fashion Week. The robbers, dressed as police, forced their way into the glamorous Hotel de Pourtales, bound Kardashian with zip ties and escaped with her jewelry — a theft that would force celebrities to rethink how they live and protect themselves. The accused became known in France as 'les papys braqueurs,' or the grandpa robbers. Some arrived in court in orthopedic shoes and one leaned on a cane. But prosecutors warned observers not to be fooled. The defendants faced charges including armed robbery, kidnapping and gang association. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP's earlier story follows below. The Paris robbery of Kim Kardashian lasted only minutes — but its impact reverberated for nearly a decade. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. On Friday, a court in the French capital will decide the verdict in one of the most audacious celebrity heists in modern French history — the night masked men stormed the star's luxury apartment, tied her up at gunpoint and vanished into the dark with $6 million in jewels. Nine men and a woman stand accused of carrying out or aiding the crime during the Paris Fashion Week in 2016, when the robbers, dressed as police, forced their way into the glamorous Hotel de Pourtales, bound her with zip ties and escaped with her jewelry — a theft that would force celebrities to rethink how they live and protect themselves. After delivering final statements in court, the defendants were dismissed Friday morning, with a verdict expected later in the day. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Among them was 69-year-old Aomar Ait Khedache, the alleged ringleader, who arrived at court walking with a stick, his face hidden from cameras. Prosecutors have asked for a 10-year sentence. His DNA, found on the bands used to bind Kardashian, was a key breakthrough that helped crack open the case. Wiretaps captured him giving orders, recruiting accomplices and arranging to sell the diamonds in Belgium. A diamond-encrusted cross, dropped during the escape, was the only piece of jewelry ever recovered. Forgiveness Khedache says he was only a foot soldier. He blamed a mysterious 'X' or 'Ben' — someone prosecutors say never existed. His lawyer pleaded for clemency, pointing to one of the trial's most visceral moments — Kardashian's earlier courtroom encounter with the man accused of orchestrating her ordeal. Though she wasn't present Friday, her words — and the memory of that moment _ still echoed. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'She looked at him when she came, she listened to the letter he had written to her, and then she forgave him,' lawyer Franck Berton told The Associated Press. Kardashian, typically shielded by security and spectacle, had locked eyes with Khedache as the letter was read aloud. 'I do appreciate the letter, I forgive you,' she said. 'But it doesn't change the feelings and the trauma and the fact that my life was forever changed.' A tabloid crime had become something raw and human. Khedache on Friday asked for 'a thousand pardons,' communicated via a written note in court. Other defendants also used their final words to express remorse. 'The grandpa robbers' The accused became known in France as 'les papys braqueurs' — the grandpa robbers. Some arrived in court in orthopedic shoes and one leaned on a cane. Some read the proceedings from a screen, hard of hearing and nearly mute. But prosecutors warned observers not to be seduced by soft appearances. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The trial is being heard by a panel of three judges and six jurors, who will need a majority vote to reach a decision. The defendants face charges including armed robbery, kidnapping and gang association. If convicted, some of them could face life in prison. Paris was once a sanctuary for Kardashian Kardashian's testimony earlier this month was the emotional high point. In a packed courtroom, she recounted how she was thrown onto a bed, zip-tied, and had a gun pressed to her on the night of Oct. 2, 2016. 'I absolutely did think I was going to die,' she said. 'I have babies. I have to make it home. They can take everything. I just have to make it home.' She was dragged into a marble bathroom and told to stay silent. When the robbers fled, she freed herself by scraping the tape on her wrists off against the sink, then hid with her friend, shaking and barefoot. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. She said that Paris had once been her sanctuary — a city she would wander at 3 a.m., window shopping, stopping for hot chocolate. That illusion was shattered. Privacy became luxury The robbery echoed far beyond the City of Light. It forced a recalibration of celebrity behavior in the age of Instagram. For years, Kardashian had curated her life like a showroom: geo-tagged, diamond-lit, public by design. But this was the moment the showroom turned into a crime scene. In her words, 'People were watching … They knew where I was.' Afterward, she stopped posting her location in real time. She stripped her social media feed of lavish gifts and vanished from Paris for years. Other stars followed suit. Privacy became luxury. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Defence attorneys have asked the court for leniency, citing the defendants' age and health. But prosecutors insist that criminal experience, not frailty, defined the gang. Even by the standards of France's famously deliberate legal system, the case took years to reach trial. Kardashian, who once said that the experience 'really changed everything,' now waits for a verdict — and perhaps, a final measure of closure. — Catherine Gaschka contributed to this report. Read More Music Canada Toronto Maple Leafs Music Celebrity

Straits Times
23-05-2025
- Straits Times
Defendants ask forgiveness ahead of Kim Kardashian robbery verdict
Celebrity Kim Kardashian (centre) leaves with her mother Kris Jenner (right) the Assize Court after testifying in the trial on May 13. PHOTO: AFP PARIS - Defendants accused of stealing US$10 million (S$13 million) in jewellery from reality TV star Kim Kardashian in Paris in 2016 asked for forgiveness on May 23 as the court prepared to deliver its verdict. Nine men and one woman have been standing trial since April, with prosecutors seeking the toughest jail terms – 10 years – for the four men accused of carrying out the robbery. Kardashian, then 35, was robbed while staying at an exclusive hotel in the French capital on the night of Oct 2-Oct 3, 2016. She was threatened with a gun to the head and tied up, with her mouth taped. Aomar Ait Khedache, 69, accused of being the ringleader, begged to be forgiven in his final statement ahead of sentencing. Khedache is now virtually mute and completely deaf, and his statement was read out by his lawyer. Known as 'Old Omar', Khedache has admitted to tying up Kardashian but denies being the robbery mastermind. 'I ask for forgiveness. I can't find the words. I am very sorry,' he wrote, asking for 'a thousand pardons' from his son Harminy, who allegedly drove him and two accomplices the night of the theft and is also on trial. 'All I have to offer you is regret. I am sorry. I take responsibility for what I have done,' said Yunice Abbas, another of the four men risking 10 years in prison. Others took a different tack, using the opportunity to reassert their innocence. 'I never, ever took part in the jewellery theft,' said a lawyer, reading a statement on behalf of Didier Dubreucq, another of the four, before the verdict, expected in the late evening. 'Grandpa robbers' Most of the stolen valuables were never recovered, including a diamond ring given to Kardashian by her then-husband, rapper Kanye West. Defendant Aomar Ait Khedache (centre) and co-defendant Harminy Ait Khedache (right) at the Assize Court of Paris, on April 28. PHOTO: AFP The ring alone was valued at €3.5 million euros (S$5.1 million). The robbery was the biggest against a private individual in France in 20 years. Most of the accused are now in their 60s and 70s and have been dubbed the 'Grandpa robbers' by French media. They have underworld nicknames like 'Old Omar' and 'Blue Eyes' that resemble those of old-school French bandits of 1960s and 1970s films noirs. But making the sentencing demands earlier this week, the prosecutor urged the judges and jury to remember that Kardashian was targeted by a violent attack and not to be 'taken in' by the 'wrinkles' of the defendants. The American star testified at the trial last week, wearing a diamond necklace valued at US$3 million, according to its New York-based creator Samer Halimeh. Kardashian said she feared she would be raped and killed by the masked men who held her at gunpoint. 'I thought I was going to die,' said Kardashian, who is among the world's most followed people on Instagram and X. The trial has attracted huge media attention and crowds have flocked around the court in Paris's historic Ile de la Cite area hoping for a glimpse of the celebrity. 'I forgive you' During the trial, Kardashian told the court she forgave Khedache after hearing a letter of apology from him. 'I forgive you for what has taken place but it does not change the emotion, the feelings, the trauma and the way my life changed,' she told Khedache, adding that she believed in a 'second chance'. None of the defendants are currently in detention and, even if convicted, their lawyers' main aim will be to prevent their elderly clients going back to prison. Exceptionally, the presiding judge allowed them to all leave the courthouse before the verdict is delivered, saying they must be present from 5pm GMT even if the ruling is expected some time later. Khedache's lawyer argued on May 22 that his client should not go back to jail: 'At that age, a prison sentence is life imprisonment. 'I'm asking you to rise to the occasion. And it's not just me asking you, Mrs Kardashian is asking you,' said Mr Frank Berton, pointing to her statement to the court. Kardashian, sometimes described as 'famous for being famous', became well known in the early 2000s through TV reality shows, before launching fashion brands and appearing in films. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.


Toronto Sun
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Toronto Sun
Kim Kardashian dons graduation cap and marches closer to becoming lawyer
Published May 21, 2025 • 1 minute read Kim Kardashian leaves the Assize Court after testifying in a trial over the 2016 robbery that saw her relieved of millions of dollars' worth of jewellery at gunpoint in Paris, on May 13, 2025. Photo by LEO VIGNAL / AFP via Getty Images Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — Kim Kardashian is a step closer to following in her father's footsteps and becoming a lawyer. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account She has completed a legal apprenticeship and is now eligible to take the California bar exam, her representative confirmed Wednesday. The entrepreneur and reality TV star posted an Instagram Story from a small private ceremony at the Beverly Hills Hotel, where she smiled as she donned a graduation cap. Jessica Jackson, a lawyer who mentored her in the program, called it 'one of the most inspiring legal journeys we've ever seen.' 'Six years ago, Kim Kardashian walked into this program with nothing but a fierce desire to fight for justice,' Jackson says in a speech in the video. 'No law school lectures, no ivory tower shortcuts, just determination. And a mountain of case law books to read.' California allows people to study under a lawyer or judge as an alternative to law school. Kardashian could become a licensed lawyer if she passes the state's notoriously difficult state bar exam. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Jackson said Kardashian spent '18 hours a week, 48 weeks a year for six straight years' on the program. Her late father, Robert Kardashian, was an attorney and counted O.J. Simpson among his clients. Kardashian revealed the milestone roughly a week after she testified in a Paris courtroom about her fear of being killed during a 2016 armed robbery. 'I was certain that was the moment that he was going to rape me,' she told a Paris court May 13 about the ordeal. 'I absolutely did think I was going to die.' Kardashian has in recent years been a criminal justice reform advocate and in 2018 successfully lobbied President Donald Trump to commute the sentence of Alice Marie Johnson, a grandmother who was serving a life sentence without parole for drug offenses. Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto & GTA Canada Toronto Maple Leafs Canada