Latest news with #grandpaRobbers
News.com.au
24-05-2025
- News.com.au
Verdict handed down in $14m Kardashian case
Eight French 'grandpa robbers' have been found guilty of the 2016 kidnapping and robbery of Kim Kardashian in Paris. A panel of three judges and six jurors in the Paris courtroom handed down guilty verdicts to all but two of the 10 defendants, nine men and one woman, NBC reported. They were accused of an elaborate heist that involved binding the superstar influencer with zip ties and making off with $14 million worth of her jewellery – including a diamond engagement ring from Ye (then Kanye West), report the New York Post. The incident happened during Paris Fashion Week in 2016. Prosecutors had asked for 10-year sentences for the alleged heisters, most of whom were in their late 50s and 60s when cops rounded them up in the months after the heist, using evidence such as DNA and wire taps to crack the case. The accused became known in France as 'les pays braqueurs' — the grandpa robbers. After nearly ten years of delays in court proceedings, most of the robbers are now in their late 60s and 70s and suffering maladies including cancers, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's. One suspect died before trial, and the alleged mastermind of the operation – Aomar Aït Khedache – is deaf, communicating with the court through written notes. The 44-year-old Kardashian, on the other hand, was as resplendent as ever in the courtroom – a contrast to her gut-wrenching testimony about how she was thrown onto a bed, zip-tied, and had a gun pressed to her on the night of October 2, 2016. 'I absolutely did think I was going to die,' she testified. '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. Khedache was already a veteran of the Paris criminal underworld when he organised the heist, and 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, blaming a mysterious 'X' or 'Ben' — someone prosecutors say never existed. Khedache asked for 'a thousand pardons,' communicated via a written note, according to French media. Other defendants also used their final words to express remorse.
Al Jazeera
23-05-2025
- Al Jazeera
Paris court convicts eight over 2016 Kim Kardashian armed heist
A Paris court has found eight men guilty of involvement in a 2016 armed robbery of the US celebrity Kim Kardashian, who described the incident as 'the most terrifying experience of my life'. Seven of the convicted received prison sentences of between three and eight years, some of which were suspended, and another received a fine. The court did not order any additional time behind bars for the accused, with Chief Judge David De Pas saying that the defendants' ages – six are in their 60s and 70s – and their health issues weighed on the court's decision to impose sentences that he said 'aren't very severe'. 'The crime was the most terrifying experience of my life, leaving a lasting impact on me and my family,' Kardashian, who was not present for the verdict, said in a statement on Friday. 'While I'll never forget what happened, I believe in the power of growth and accountability and pray for healing for all. I remain committed to advocating for justice and promoting a fair legal system.' De Pas told the convicted men that they had 'caused fear' during the October 2, 2016, robbery of millions of dollars worth of jewels from the Kardashians in their hotel room during the Paris Fashion Week. During the theft, Kardashian was tied up and said she feared for her life. Aomar Ait Khedache, the 69-year-old ringleader of the gang dubbed by the French press as the 'grandpa robbers', used a cane to walk into the courthouse. Khedache was given a sentence of eight years in prison, five of which were suspended. Three others were given seven years with five suspended. Three more received prison sentences ranging from three to five years, mostly or completely suspended, and an eighth person was found guilty on a weapons charge and fined. Due to time served in jail, none of the accused will return to detention. Two of the 10 defendants were acquitted. The trial was heard by a three-judge panel and six jurors, before whom Kardashian testified last week. During an emotional testimony, Kardashian recounted the harrowing experience of the robbery and the fear she felt being at the mercy of a group of armed men. During the theft, she was thrown onto a bed, tied up and had a gun pressed to her. '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.' Kardashian is known for her interest in law and obtained her law degree in the United States earlier this week. She has also been an outspoken advocate for criminal justice reform. Earlier in the trial, a letter written by Khedache expressing remorse for his actions was read to Kardashian, who said that she appreciated the letter and forgave him, even if nothing could change the 'trauma and the fact that my life was forever changed'. Kedache again asked for 'a thousand pardons' via a written note on Friday, with the other defendants also using their final remarks before the court to say that they were sorry for their actions.
The Independent
23-05-2025
- The Independent
Lawyers react as eight found guilty in Kim Kardashian's Paris robbery case
Lawyers expressed relief and satisfaction after eight people were convicted for the 2016 armed robbery of Kim Kardashian in Paris — a $10 million jewellery heist that left her traumatised. Ringleader Aomar Aït Khedache received an eight-year sentence, mostly suspended. His lawyer said, 'We are really relieved, even if we are exhausted.' Kardashian's lawyer added that she had wanted justice, and now 'she can move on with her life.' The verdict followed a four-week trial nearly a decade after the crime. Dubbed 'the grandpa robbers,' the elderly suspects targeted Kardashian while she was alone during Paris Fashion Week.
Telegraph
23-05-2025
- Telegraph
‘Grandpa robbers' found guilty of robbing Kim Kardashian at gunpoint
Eight people, mostly pensioners, have been found guilty of crimes connected to the gunpoint robbery of £7.5 million worth of jewellery from Kim Kardashian, the billionaire American socialite. The 44-year-old reality television star was tied up and held at gunpoint in a five-hour ordeal at a hotel in October 2016 during Paris Fashion Week by a gang dubbed 'the grandpa robbers'. They dumped Kardashian in her hotel bathroom and made off by bicycle and on foot with the jewels, including a £3.7 million ring from her then-husband, rapper Kanye West. The group of nine men and one woman, with an average age of 70, were accused of armed robbery, kidnapping and gang association. Eight of the accused were convicted while two of the defendants, both considered informants who allegedly passed on Kardashian's movements to the robbers, were acquitted. Due to time already served in pretrial detention, none of those found guilty will go to prison. David De Pas, the chief judge, told the defendants: 'The sentences are quite lenient; I understand that you understand that you have caused harm. 'The state of health of the main protagonists ethically prohibits incarcerating anyone. It would have been unjust to take you to prison this evening.' Kardashian, in a statement following the guilty verdicts, said: 'The crime was the most terrifying experience of my life, leaving a lasting impact on me and my family. 'While I'll never forget what happened, I believe in the power of growth and accountability and pray for healing for all. 'I remain committed to advocating for justice, and promoting a fair legal system.' Aomar Ait Khedache, 68, known as 'Old Omar' and who is completely blind and deaf, had admitted to tying up Kardashian but denied being the mastermind of the plot. In a statement read out on his behalf by his lawyer to the packed courtroom, he begged for forgiveness. 'I ask for forgiveness. I can't find the words. I am very sorry,' it read. 'I offer a thousand apologies,' he scribbled on a piece of paper during the proceedings. He was sentenced to eight years in prison, five of which were suspended, and fined €5,000. Anne-Dominique Merville, the prosecutor general, had demanded that Khedache, who has multiple convictions for drug-running and robbery, should spend the next 10 years in prison. She said he was 'now of a certain age and showed no risk of reoffending' but should 'pay for his crimes'. His son, Harminy Aït Khedache, who was the getaway driver but maintained he had no idea that a robbery was taking place, was sentenced to five years in prison, four of which were suspended. Yunice Abbas, who admitted his participation and wrote a book in 2021 called I Kidnapped Kim Kardashian, which recounted his role in the plot, was sentenced to seven years in prison, five of which were suspended. Didier Dubreucq, nicknamed Didier 'Blue Eyes', who was identified as one of the two criminals who entered Kardashian's bedroom and stole her jewellery, was sentenced to seven years in prison, five of which were suspended. Marc-Alexandre Boyer, the youngest of the group, now aged 35, was suspected of having kept lookout in the hotel lobby with Abbas. Marc Boyer, his father, accused only of possessing a weapon, was fined €5,000. Christiane Glotin, 80, who acted as the 'criminal secretary', was given a four-year suspended sentence. François Delaporte, accused of providing and possessing false documents, was handed a three-year suspended prison sentence.
Sky News
23-05-2025
- Sky News
'Grandpa robbers' found guilty over 'terrifying' Kim Kardashian heist at Paris hotel
Eight people have been found guilty of crimes connected to the gunpoint robbery of Kim Kardashian at a Paris hotel. The theft targeting the TV personality, socialite and businesswoman in 2016 was carried out by a group the media dubbed the "grandpa robbers" as most were close to or of retirement age. A six-member jury, led by three judges, reached a verdict on Friday following a four-week trial at Paris's Palais de Justice. The court found the ringleader and seven others guilty over the raid at the Hotel de Pourtales. Their sentences ranged from prison terms to a fine, but with time already served in pretrial detention, none of those convicted will go to jail. The group were accused of pulling off one of the most audacious heists against a celebrity in modern French history, in the early hours of 3 October 2016 during Paris Fashion Week. Wearing ski masks and disguised as police, the thieves stormed Kardashian 's luxury hotel apartment, bound the star with zip ties, and stole jewellery worth an estimated $6m (£4.4m), including a ring given to her by then husband Kanye West. ' You caused harm' Chief judge David De Pas said the defendants' ages - with the oldest being 79 and some others in their 60s and 70s - weighed on the court's decision not to impose harsher sentences, and the nine years between the robbery and the trial was also taken into account. He also told them the reality TV star had been traumatised by the raid, adding: "You caused harm. You caused fear." Some arrived in court in orthopaedic shoes and one leaned on a cane. But prosecutors warned observers not to be fooled. 2:02 Ringleader Aomar Ait Khedache, 69, who arrived at court walking with a stick, was sentenced to eight years imprisonment, with five of those suspended. His DNA, which was 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. Three others who were accused of the most serious charges got seven years imprisonment, five of them suspended. 'Most terrifying experience of my life' After the ruling, 44-year-old Kardashian, who was not present for the verdict, issued a statement, saying: "I am deeply grateful to the French authorities for pursuing justice in this case. "The crime was the most terrifying experience of my life, leaving a lasting impact on me and my family. "While I'll never forget what happened, I believe in the power of growth and accountability and pray for healing for all. I remain committed to advocating for justice, and promoting a fair legal system." The court in the French capital found a ninth person guilty of illegal weapons charges, while a tenth person was cleared. 1:02 Kardashian 'thought she would be raped and killed' Five of the defendants, who were all aged between 60 and 72 at the time of the incident, faced armed robbery and kidnapping charges. The remaining five defendants were charged with complicity in the heist or the unauthorised possession of a weapon. During the robbery, Kardashian, who previously told the court she thought she would be raped and killed, was bound with zip-ties and left in the bathtub. She described the robbery as "terrifying" and said while she felt forgiveness, that in no way altered "the emotion and the feelings and the trauma," adding "my life is forever changed". Two members of the group - Khedache, known as "Old Omar", and Yunice Abbas - who wrote a book called I Kidnapped Kim Kardashian, admitted some part in the robbery, while the remaining eight denied the charges. Prosecutors had requested sentences of up to 10 years. Kardashian earlier this week completed her six-year legal apprenticeship in California. Most of the jewellery, which is understood to have been sold in Belgium, was never found. A diamond-encrusted cross, dropped during the escape, was the only piece ever recovered.
