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The Herald Scotland
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Kim Kardashian jewelry heist trial: 'Kardashians' star testifies
"I absolutely thought I was going to die," she told the court, shedding tears at times during her testimony. "I thought about my sister, thought she would walk in and see me shot dead and have that memory in her forever." Kardashian's sister, Kourtney Kardashian, had joined her on her trip to Paris. She was not at the hotel during the robbery. The suspects are accused of tying up Kardashian with zip ties and duct tape before making off with jewelry, including a $4 million engagement ring given to her by her then-husband rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, according to investigators. "I came to Paris for fashion week. Paris was always a place that I loved so much," Kardashian told the court. Kim Kardashian will testify in trial over Paris robbery "We were leaving the next morning so I was just packing up, it was around 3 in the morning. I heard stomping up the stairs when I was in bed," she said, recalling the night of the robbery. "And in my bedroom comes in a few police officers, or that I assumed were police officers as they were in police uniforms. "Then I heard one of the gentlemen forcefully say 'ring! ring!' in English, with an accent, pointing," she said. "I was pretty hysterical and I just looked at the concierge and told him 'what is going to happen to us, I have to make it home to my babies,'" Kardashian said. She said at one point she feared she was going to be raped as the robbers threw her on the bed and one of them grabbed her leg. "But he ended up tying me up and closed my legs," she said. Ahead of Kardashian's testimony, her stylist Simone Harouche, who was asleep in the same luxury hotel flat at the time of the attack, told the tribunal of the "terror" they both felt during the robbery. "'I have babies, and I have to live' - that's what I heard her say. 'Take everything - I need to live,'" said Harouche, who was downstairs in the duplex suite at the time of the attack, while Kardashian was upstairs. Harouche rushed to lock herself in the bathroom and texted Kardashian's sister Kourtney and their bodyguard for help. Trial for men charged with Kim Kardashian 2016 jewelry heist kicks off When the robbers left and Kardashian joined her downstairs, "she was beside herself, I've never seen her like that before," Harouche said. "She just was screaming and kept saying, 'We need to get out of here, we need help, what are we going to do if they come back?'" Harouche also cried at times during her testimony, and said she had changed careers and underwent therapy because of the robbery, which she said caused her post-traumatic stress and made her fearful of being around celebrities. In all, nine men and one woman are being tried by the criminal court. Five of them - all men - face armed robbery and kidnapping charges and potentially risk being sentenced to life imprisonment. The others are charged with complicity in the heist or the unauthorized possession of a weapon. As the robbers escaped on foot or with bicycles, they lost some of the jewellery, including a cross with six diamonds, which a passerby found in the street and brought to the police. But most of the jewels, including the $4 million engagement ring, were never found. Contributing: Brendan Morrow
Epoch Times
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Epoch Times
Kim Kardashian Tells Paris Court She Feared for Her Life During 2016 Jewelry Heist
Kim Kardashian broke down in tears as she recounted the night she was robbed at gunpoint in her Paris hotel room, telling a French court on Tuesday that she believed she was going to die during the 2016 attack. The reality television star and business mogul, 44, testified in the high-profile trial of the 'grandpa robbers,' a group accused of stealing millions of euros in jewelry from her during Paris Fashion Week nearly nine years ago. Kardashian told the court she had always felt safe in Paris, often strolling the city at night. But that sense of security was shattered around 3 a.m. on Oct. 3, 2016, when she heard heavy footsteps walking up the stairs to her luxury hotel suite. 'I came to Paris for fashion week. Paris was always a place that I loved so much. I used to walk around the city when I woke up in the middle of the night. I always felt very safe,' she said during the hearing Tuesday. She was preparing to sleep when several men dressed as police officers barged into her bedroom. 'I kept calling out for my sister and one of my best friends, but no one answered me. And in my bedroom come in a few police officers, or what I assumed were police officers as they were in police uniforms,' Kardashian testified. The intruders demanded her jewelry, one of them shouting 'Ring! Ring!' in English with an accent, pointing at her. Fearing the Worst Kardashian admitted she was initially confused, thinking the incident might be a terrorist attack given the global climate at the time. But the situation escalated as the men forced her back into the room, threw her on the bed, and one pointed a gun at her. 'I was pretty hysterical, and I just looked at the concierge and told him: 'What is going to happen to us? I have to make it home to my babies,'' Kardashian said. Related Stories 4/28/2025 4/16/2025 She described a moment when one of the robbers grabbed her leg and pulled her towards him, exposing her. 'That was the moment when I thought he would rape me. But he ended up tying me up and closed my legs,' she said. 'I absolutely thought I was going to die,' Kardashian told the court, recalling how she worried her sister would find her dead and be traumatized forever. Aftermath and Trauma After the robbers left, Kardashian managed to free herself by cutting her ties on a marble sink. She ran to hide on the balcony with her stylist, Simone Harouche, fearing the attackers might return. Harouche had locked herself in the bathroom during the ordeal and texted Kardashian's sister Kourtney and their bodyguard for help. Kardashian called her mother from the bushes to tell her what had happened. As they waited for security, she and Harouche debated whether to jump from the window to escape. 'Now I have between four and six security [personnel] at home for me to feel safe,' Kardashian said. 'I can't sleep at night if there aren't multiple security people.' She also revealed that her home in Los Angeles was robbed shortly after the Paris incident. The Trial and Forgiveness Ten defendants are on trial in Paris, including five men facing charges of armed robbery and kidnapping, which could carry life sentences. The alleged ringleader, Aomar Ait Khedache, 69, known as 'Omar the Old,' who can no longer speak, sent Kardashian a letter of apology, which was read aloud in court. 'I'm honestly emotional about it. This experience changed my life, changed my family life ... I do appreciate the letter, for sure, I forgive you for what has taken place, but it doesn't change the feelings and the trauma and the fact that my life was forever changed, but I do appreciate the letter, thank you,' Kardashian said. Khedache, who denies being the ringleader, responded through the court: 'Your forgiveness is a sunshine that has enlightened me ... I am forever grateful.' Seeking Closure Kardashian told the court that testifying was her way of seeking closure. 'This is my closure. This is me putting this hopefully to rest, after being able to see everyone and thank the French judiciary system for figuring out this investigation,' she said. She said she was hopeful that those involved would be rehabilitated. She said that her role was simply to tell her truth and help prevent similar crimes from happening to others. 'I wouldn't wish that upon my worst enemy,' Kardashian said, reflecting on the ordeal and its impact on her life. Fans lined up outside the courthouse to support Kardashian, with some calling her an inspiration and hoping for justice. The majority of the stolen jewels, including a $4 million engagement ring, remain missing. From
Sydney Morning Herald
13-05-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Take everything - I need to live': Kim Kardashian testifies in Paris robbery trial
Her testimony marked the emotional climax of a trial that has gripped France and reignited debates about the cost of fame and what it means to live in public. Following digital breadcrumbs At the time of the robbery, Kardashian was one of the most recognised women on the planet. A fashion icon. A reality star. A billionaire business mogul. She had mastered a new kind of celebrity – one broadcast in real time, post by post, to millions of followers. But in the early hours of October 3, 2016, that visibility became a weapon against her. The robbery marked a turning point for Kardashian, and for how the world understood vulnerability in the digital age. Investigators believe the attackers followed Kardashian's digital breadcrumbs – images, timestamps, geotags – and exploited them with old-school criminal methods. Dressed in black with defiant sparkling diamonds, Kardashian on Tuesday stood across from her mother, Kris Jenner, in the heavily secured courtroom. Her voice trembled as she thanked French authorities for 'allowing me to share my truth.' She described how the attackers arrived at her hotel disguised as police officers, dragging the concierge upstairs in handcuffs. 'I thought it was some sort of terrorist attack,' she said. One attacker demanded she turn over the diamond ring valued at $US4 million on the bedside table. 'He said, 'Ring! Ring!' and he pointed to his hand,' she recalled. French prosecutors say the assailants – most in their 60s and 70s – were part of a seasoned criminal ring. Two defendants have admitted being at the scene. One claims he didn't know who she was. Twelve suspects were originally charged. One has since died. Another was excused due to illness. The French press dubbed them les papys braqueurs – 'the grandpa robbers' – but prosecutors insist they were no harmless retirees. They face charges including armed robbery, kidnapping and membership in a criminal gang, offences that carry the potential for life imprisonment. 'Take everything. I need to live' After the men fled, Kardashian rubbed the tape against the bathroom sink to free her hands. She hopped downstairs, still bound, to find her friend and stylist, Simone Harouche. Fearing the robbers might return, they went onto the balcony and hid in bushes. While lying there, Kardashian called her mother. Earlier in the trial, Harouche recalled hearing Kardashian scream from upstairs: ''I need to live.' That is what she kept on saying, 'Take everything. I need to live.'' Harouche locked herself in a bathroom and texted Kardashian's sister and bodyguard: 'Something is very wrong.' Later, when she saw her friend she described how '(Kim) was beside herself,' Harouche said. 'She just was screaming.' Judge David de Pas asked whether Kardashian had made herself a target by posting images of herself with 'jewels of great value.' Harouche rejected the premise. 'Just because a woman wears jewellery, that doesn't make her a target,' she said. 'That's like saying that because a woman wears a short skirt that she deserves to be raped.' After the robbery, critics like designer Karl Lagerfeld slammed Kardashian for flaunting her wealth, with Lagerfeld telling the Associated Press she was 'too public' with her jewellery. But as details of the heist emerged, public opinion grew sympathetic. The heist triggered a cultural shift, prompting publicists and managers to urge clients to delay social media posts, remove location tags and think twice before flashing luxury online. Yet, Kardashian's own image, some say, continues to complicate that narrative. Even as she testified about her trauma, journalists received a press release touting her Paris courthouse appearance: 'Kim Kardashian stuns …wearing a show-stopping $US1.5 million diamond necklace by Samer Halimeh New York, featuring 80 flawless diamonds.' Visibility, it seemed, remains currency. Loading She told the court her house in Los Angeles was robbed shortly afterward in what appeared to be a copycat attack. Without security guards, she said, 'I can't even sleep at night.' She now keeps between four and six guards at home. 'I started to get this phobia of going out,' Kardashian said. 'This experience really changed everything for us.' At the time of the 2016 robbery, she said, her bodyguard was staying in a separate hotel: 'We assumed that if we were in a hotel it was safe, it was secure.'
The Age
13-05-2025
- The Age
‘Take everything - I need to live': Kim Kardashian testifies in Paris robbery trial
Her testimony marked the emotional climax of a trial that has gripped France and reignited debates about the cost of fame and what it means to live in public. Following digital breadcrumbs At the time of the robbery, Kardashian was one of the most recognised women on the planet. A fashion icon. A reality star. A billionaire business mogul. She had mastered a new kind of celebrity – one broadcast in real time, post by post, to millions of followers. But in the early hours of October 3, 2016, that visibility became a weapon against her. The robbery marked a turning point for Kardashian, and for how the world understood vulnerability in the digital age. Investigators believe the attackers followed Kardashian's digital breadcrumbs – images, timestamps, geotags – and exploited them with old-school criminal methods. Dressed in black with defiant sparkling diamonds, Kardashian on Tuesday stood across from her mother, Kris Jenner, in the heavily secured courtroom. Her voice trembled as she thanked French authorities for 'allowing me to share my truth.' She described how the attackers arrived at her hotel disguised as police officers, dragging the concierge upstairs in handcuffs. 'I thought it was some sort of terrorist attack,' she said. One attacker demanded she turn over the diamond ring valued at $US4 million on the bedside table. 'He said, 'Ring! Ring!' and he pointed to his hand,' she recalled. French prosecutors say the assailants – most in their 60s and 70s – were part of a seasoned criminal ring. Two defendants have admitted being at the scene. One claims he didn't know who she was. Twelve suspects were originally charged. One has since died. Another was excused due to illness. The French press dubbed them les papys braqueurs – 'the grandpa robbers' – but prosecutors insist they were no harmless retirees. They face charges including armed robbery, kidnapping and membership in a criminal gang, offences that carry the potential for life imprisonment. 'Take everything. I need to live' After the men fled, Kardashian rubbed the tape against the bathroom sink to free her hands. She hopped downstairs, still bound, to find her friend and stylist, Simone Harouche. Fearing the robbers might return, they went onto the balcony and hid in bushes. While lying there, Kardashian called her mother. Earlier in the trial, Harouche recalled hearing Kardashian scream from upstairs: ''I need to live.' That is what she kept on saying, 'Take everything. I need to live.'' Harouche locked herself in a bathroom and texted Kardashian's sister and bodyguard: 'Something is very wrong.' Later, when she saw her friend she described how '(Kim) was beside herself,' Harouche said. 'She just was screaming.' Judge David de Pas asked whether Kardashian had made herself a target by posting images of herself with 'jewels of great value.' Harouche rejected the premise. 'Just because a woman wears jewellery, that doesn't make her a target,' she said. 'That's like saying that because a woman wears a short skirt that she deserves to be raped.' After the robbery, critics like designer Karl Lagerfeld slammed Kardashian for flaunting her wealth, with Lagerfeld telling the Associated Press she was 'too public' with her jewellery. But as details of the heist emerged, public opinion grew sympathetic. The heist triggered a cultural shift, prompting publicists and managers to urge clients to delay social media posts, remove location tags and think twice before flashing luxury online. Yet, Kardashian's own image, some say, continues to complicate that narrative. Even as she testified about her trauma, journalists received a press release touting her Paris courthouse appearance: 'Kim Kardashian stuns …wearing a show-stopping $US1.5 million diamond necklace by Samer Halimeh New York, featuring 80 flawless diamonds.' Visibility, it seemed, remains currency. Loading She told the court her house in Los Angeles was robbed shortly afterward in what appeared to be a copycat attack. Without security guards, she said, 'I can't even sleep at night.' She now keeps between four and six guards at home. 'I started to get this phobia of going out,' Kardashian said. 'This experience really changed everything for us.' At the time of the 2016 robbery, she said, her bodyguard was staying in a separate hotel: 'We assumed that if we were in a hotel it was safe, it was secure.'
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Yahoo
Kim Kardashian Testifies In Jewelry Heist Trial: 'I Absolutely Did Think I Was Going To Die'
Kim Kardashian told a Paris court she 'absolutely did think I was going to die' when she was robbed at gunpoint in 2016. The testimony, given by Kardashian on Tuesday afternoon, details the early morning hours of Oct. 3, 2016, during which the reality star and business mogul was held at gunpoint during Paris Fashion Week and robbed. Kardashian testified she was getting ready for bed in her hotel room when she heard a commotion. Several masked men then burst into her room, she said. Kardashian's hands were zip-tied, her mouth was taped and a gun was pointed at her temple, she testified. 'I was certain that was the moment that he was going to rape me,' she told the Paris court. 'I absolutely did think I was going to die.' Ten men are on trial for their alleged roles in the heist, the majority of whom are in their 60s and 70s. One other suspect died before the trial, and another was excused for illness. The assailants ― who Kardashian said arrived at her hotel disguised as police officers ― made out with about $6 million in jewelry, including Kardashian's engagement ring, according to The Associated Press. Kardashian said they also stole about $1,000 from her wallet. Prosecutors said Kardashian was tracked through her Instagram by the gang of veteran criminals, who have been called the 'grandpa robbers' by the French press. Hairstylist Simone Harouche also testified on Tuesday that she heard Kardashian yelling from their shared two-floor hotel suite. ''I have babies and I need to live.' That is what she kept on saying, 'Take everything. I need to live,'' Harouche testified. Kardashian said she thought one of the robbers told her to 'shut up' when she asked if she was going to die. After the group of men left, Kardashian managed to go downstairs to find Harouche. The two hid in bushes on the balcony until police arrived in fear that the robbers would come back, Kardashian said. One of the defendants, 69-year-old Aomar Ait Khedache, wrote a letter that was read to the court asking Kardashian for forgiveness. Kardashian offered forgiveness and a reminder that her trauma continues. 'I do appreciate the letter, I forgive you for what has taken place, but it doesn't change the emotion and the feelings and the trauma, the way my life is forever changed,' Kardashian responded in her testimony. The trial is expected to last until the end of the month.
