Nearly ten years after Kim Kardashian was robbed at gunpoint in Paris, the trial of the men accused of targeting her has finally begun.
In October 2016, during Paris Fashion Week, a group of masked men later dubbed the “grandparent robbers” due to their age stormed the hotel where Kardashian was staying and stole jewelry worth an estimated US$10 million (A$15.68 million). It was the largest robbery targeting an individual in France in more than 20 years and made global headlines.
What happened?
On the night of October 3, 2016, Kardashian returned to the hotel after attending a Givenchy fashion show. Her bodyguard, Pascal Duvier, was outside with her sister Kourtney, leaving her alone in her suite.
The robbers arrived on bicycles, disguised as police officers, and threatened the hotel concierge at gunpoint, forcing him to escort them to Kardashian’s suite. They bound her hands and feet, taped her mouth, and took her to the bathroom. Meanwhile, two of them held a gun to her head and demanded that she hand over her diamond engagement ring and other valuables.
According to police, the robbers took a jewelry box worth approximately €6 million, as well as a ring worth €4 million. Three others remained downstairs to monitor the situation, and one of them waited for them in a getaway car. The entire operation took only about 10 minutes.
Social Media… The Key to the Crime
Investigations revealed that Kardashian’s extensive social media activity was a key factor in planning the crime. Prior to the incident, she had posted photos of her diamond engagement ring, which her then-husband, Kanye West, had given her.
One of the accused, Amar Ait Khedache, told police that Kardashian’s public posts provided them with a “complete map” of her movements and jewelry.
In an episode of her show Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Kim said, “I was posting on Snapchat that I was back at the hotel and everyone was out… I think they knew the bodyguard was with Kourtney and I was alone. They took advantage of that opportunity and carried out their plan.”
Most of the stolen jewelry has never been recovered and is believed to have been sold in Belgium.
Who is being tried?
Of the 12 people initially charged, 10 are currently on trial:
Younes Abbas
Amar Ait Khedache
Haremneef Ait Khedache
Didier Dubrocq
Marc-Alexandre Boillier
Floris Herui
Gary Madar
Christian Glotin
François Dela Porte
Marc Boillier
Five of them are accused of direct participation in the robbery, while the others are accused of complicity. The French media have dubbed them the “grandfather thieves” because most of them were born in the 1950s.
Two of the defendants, Amar Ait Khedache and Younes Abbas, have pleaded guilty. Abbas, who was tasked with monitoring the hotel entrance, stated his intention to apologize in court. He later wrote a book, I Kidnapped Kim Kardashian, in which he recounted the details of the incident.
Gary Madar, the brother of Kardashian’s chauffeur in Paris, is believed to have leaked information to the gang, but he is not currently on trial.
DNA traces found on the plastic straps used to restrain Kardashian helped identify the perpetrators.
Kim Kardashian to Testify
Kim Kardashian is scheduled to testify in person in court on May 13, according to her legal team, who have emphasized that they want the trial to proceed with respect for all parties and in accordance with French law.
The Deep Psychological Impact
Kardashian has spoken publicly about the trauma of the incident. In a 2017 episode of her show, she detailed the fear she felt when she was dragged up the stairs and saw a gun pointed at her.
In a 2020 interview with David Letterman, she admitted that she believed she was going to be killed and that her sister Kourtney would find her body.
She later stated that she blamed herself for excessively displaying her lavish lifestyle on social media.
In a 2019 interview with New York magazine, she said, “I realized I brought this on myself, especially by showing off all my expensive possessions… Things that meant so much to me don’t mean as much anymore.”
Why was the trial delayed?
The case was delayed due to COVID-19 restrictions, as well as the French courts being busy with a major terrorism case related to the 2015 Paris attacks.
The trial is currently underway at the Paris Court of Appeal, and a verdict is expected on May 23.
