Latest news with #criminalunderworld
The Independent
23-05-2025
- The Independent
Eight found guilty of Kim Kardashian violent robbery in Paris apartment
Eight people have been found guilty of a violent robbery of Kim Kardashian in a Paris apartment in a $10 million jewellery heist that left the celebrity traumatised. The verdict came after a four-week week trial that unfolded nearly a decade after the US influencer's harrowing ordeal. The high-profile case saw the Californian star break down in tears in the witness box of the French courtroom as she described her fear of rape and murder at the hands of the robbers. Nine men and a woman were accused of carrying out, or aiding, the robbery of robbing Kardashian, then 35, while she was alone in her apartment during a visit to the French capital for its 2016 Fashion Week. The more elderly suspects became known in France as "les papys braqueurs" - 'the grandpa robbers' - and arrived in court in orthopaedic shoes while one leaned on a cane. At the heart of the trial was 69-year-old Aomar Ait Khedache, a veteran of Paris' criminal underworld. He admitted his involvement in the robbery but denied being the ringleader. His DNA, found on the zip-ties used to bind Kardashian, cracked open the case. Wiretaps captured him giving orders, recruiting accomplices, and arranging to sell the diamonds in Belgium. The loot was never found. Khedache claims he was only a foot soldier and blamed a mysterious "X" or "Ben" - someone prosecutors say never existed. Khedache begged the court for 'a thousand pardons' in his final statement, written on a piece of paper because he has become deaf and mute. Prosecutors have asked for a 10-year sentence. It was nearly three weeks into the trial when Kardashian arrived at the Palais de Justice to face the alleged robbers for the first time in nearly a decade. Offering only sparing and occasional glances towards the accused, Kardashian revisited her fear of being raped and murdered on the night of 3 October 2016. 'I have babies,' she recalled telling the armed robbers, after she was tied up and thrown onto the bed. 'I have to make it home. They can take everything. I just have to make it home.' Her robe fell open — she said she was naked underneath — as one man pulled her toward him. 'I was certain that was the moment that he was going to rape me,' Kardashian told the court. She revealed how the robbery 'changed everything' for her family. 'I started to get this phobia of going out,' she said, adding that without half a dozen security guards she 'can't even sleep at night'. In one powerful moment, the judge read aloud a letter from Khedache, also known as 'Old Omar'. The letter, which told of the man's regret after seeing the psychological impact the robbery had had on her, was written following his initial arrest in 2017 - but Kardashian had never known about it. 'I do appreciate the letter, for sure," Kardashian told him. "I forgive you for what had taken place. But it doesn't change the emotion, the trauma, and the way my life is forever changed.' Adding that she is studying to become a lawyer, Kardashian said she regularly visits prisons. 'I've always believed in second chances,' she added. The robbery is thought to be France's biggest robbery of an individual person, with the value of stolen jewellery reported at nearly $10m – including an 18.88-carat diamond engagement ring gifted by former husband Kanye West worth $4m. Twelve people were originally charged with the robbery, despite only 10 standing trial. One suspect died before the case reached trial and another, who was declared unable to participate for health reasons, will be tried separately. Defence lawyers have asked the court for leniency, citing the defendants' age and health. But prosecutors insist that criminal experience, not frailty, defined the gang.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Edinburgh filmmaker warns 'we need to be honest about what's happening on schemes'
An Edinburgh BAFTA winning TV and film director and creator has called for society to stop failing youths from working class schemes. Gary Fraser, originally from Muirhouse, has recently seen his online three-part series, Supply and Demand, picked up by STV's streaming service. The 46-year-old created the project to explore the dark side of the criminal underworld that exists in the capital. Although the series is fictional, many elements are borrowed from lived experiences which have taken place on the capital's housing schemes. READ MORE: Edinburgh couple's joy turned to despair after noticing sonographer's concerned look READ MORE: All the targets on hit-list of 'Mr Big' as Edinburgh gang war escalates Gary believes Supply and Demand shows a different side to the often glamourised criminal underworld. His focus is on the psychological impact and generational trauma experienced by those experiencing crippling addiction and violence. The third instalment of the series, which is currently in production and requires £10,000 in further fundraising in order to be completed, will delve into the impact of crime, violence, societal abandonment and family breakdown, on youths living in areas of deprivation. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. Gary, who has worked alongside director Danny Boyle, has a chequered past as a recovering addict, former dealer and convict. But having turned his life around, he now works with Police Scotland's Aid and Abet programme mentoring youths in the justice system, and is keen to stop the generational cycle which often sees kids trapped in a life of poverty, addiction and crime. 'It does not feel right to glamourise the criminal underworld which I think is the case with TV, film and the media,' he said. 'The romanticisation of gang culture is problematic because you do not see the trauma, PTSD and crippling effect that exists in schemes. 'I really want to explore the psychological impact of existing in areas of multiple deprivation, something I think we did well in the first two parts. But part three moves on from the old and focuses on the new generation. 'A lot of the older characters have been wiped out and it is about the new members coming through. These are the grandkids of the 80s generation and there is a generational trauma passed down to them. 'We explore the circumstances which lead to youths selling drugs or committing violence from their point of view. The reality is it is learned behaviour through their environments, they see adults committing serious crimes and if that is your only role model, then the kids want to emulate that. 'There is a real focus on the breakdown of families due to drug addiction. But we also explore how the education system has failed our kids, with youths from schemes on reduced timetables across the capital becoming all too common.' Through his role with the police, Gary said every child he has encountered going through the justice system, is on a reduced timetable, not getting a full education. He accused the country of failing generations of working class kids. 'Schools are failing kids through under-resourced staff, a lack of learning assistants in classrooms, and rolling out these reduced timetables,' he continued. 'If kids are only at school a few hours a week, what are they getting up to the rest of the time? 'Every kid I mentor, who is facing charges, is on a part-time timetable. For me you have areas of multiple deprivation across the capital, and within that there are failed mental health services, youth centres and schools. 'I really respect Stephen Graham and what he achieved with Adolescence but I wanted to do something different for Scotland while focusing on areas of deprivation. There is a contemporary youth culture which has been imported from England and amplified by shows like Top Boy. 'You go to Edinburgh's schemes and the kids are carrying knives, wearing balaclavas doing drill rap, riding Sur-ron's and there is even a culture of 10-year-olds selling crack. I've taken a psychological approach in looking at the cause and effect of this youth culture in part three. 'Kids on our schemes can experience and witness people being chopped up or stabbed which has not only a traumatic effect on them but also the whole community. 'I want to look at that impact and the aftermath rather than create 'hard' characters to be celebrated." Gary said too often outsiders look at people caught up in the criminal underworld of capital schemes as leading lives to fund lavish holidays and cars. But he said the reality is often far different, with many seeing it as their only viable option to survive after being continuously failed by society. 'There are circumstances leading to people selling drugs or committing violence,' he said. 'There is a massive breakdown of families in these communities because of Scotland's failed drug policies. 'If you do not stay in the scheme, you just see a Mr Big selling drugs and destroying the area. But the truth is the majority of people caught up in this life do not sell drugs for foreign holidays or cars, it's to feed their own habit and to survive. 'Whatever is going on with the gangland stuff in Edinburgh now I cannot comment on but I think the media and others have played a role in sensationalising and romanticising it. The use of words like 'empire' and stuff like that is not portraying reality. 'I hope with Supply and Demand we can create a more empathetic culture where we better understand the generational trauma of growing up and existing in a scheme. It is fiction and is not a reveal-all documentary, but I hope it helps in working towards getting kids away from violence and addiction. 'In Edinburgh the deprivation is hidden because it simply cannot exist. Glasgow has a more open relationship than us because they are not seen a tourist city by the powers that be. 'We need to be more honest about what goes on in Edinburgh's schemes.' Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox In order to get the Part Three completed, Gary has launched a £10,000 fundraiser in order to pay actors, sound, audio and visual staff working on the series. Gary, who runs a workshop for aspiring creatives in working class communities, often uses locals with lived experiences as part of the cast and crew. Both parts One and Two sold out cinemas in Edinburgh with the series being released for free on Youtube to alleviate any economic factors. STV have committed to placing the series on their streaming platform STV Player upon its creation. This will open Supply and Demand up to overseas companies who will be able to bid to show the series. To support the fundraiser, click here.
