Nearly a decade after Kim Kardashian was robbed at gunpoint in a luxury Paris apartment, a verdict is expected in the trial of ten individuals accused of orchestrating and aiding the multi-million dollar jewellery heist.
The dramatic incident took place during Paris Fashion Week in 2016, when the reality TV star was tied up and held hostage while masked men made off with approximately £10 million (€12 million) worth of jewellery, including her $4 million diamond engagement ring.
Now, years later, nine men and one woman stand trial for their alleged roles in what has become one of the most high-profile celebrity robberies in recent history.
The accused have been on trial since April 28, facing charges ranging from armed robbery to conspiracy and aiding and abetting.
Four of the men are accused of carrying out the heist directly and could face up to ten years in prison if convicted.
The remaining defendants—five men and one woman—are charged with helping to facilitate the crime and could receive between six and eight years behind bars.
The courtroom was tense on Friday morning as each of the defendants delivered their final statements before being dismissed, with the verdict expected to be handed down later in the day.
Many of the defendants are now elderly and in poor health, which has led the French press to refer to them as the “grandpa robbers.”
Despite their advanced ages, the prosecution has consistently argued that their pasts and the brutal nature of the robbery should not be overlooked.
Prosecutor General Anne-Dominique Merville addressed the jury firmly, stating, “These were not harmless old men. They were seasoned criminals who carried out a violent, premeditated act.”
She urged the court not to let sympathy for their age cloud their judgment. “Their frailty today does not erase the terror they inflicted that night.”
Kim Kardashian, who did not attend the trial in person, has spoken out publicly about the trauma the robbery caused.
In statements submitted to the court, she described how the incident left her emotionally scarred and fearful for her safety.
“Being tied up at gunpoint in a foreign country is something I never imagined would happen to me,” she said. “I genuinely thought I was going to die that night.”
Kardashian’s testimony has played a central role in the case, reinforcing the severity of the crime and the lasting impact it had on her life.
The robbery unfolded in the early hours of October 3, 2016, inside the Hotel de Pourtalès, an upscale private residence in central Paris.
As Kim Kardashian stayed in her room alone, five men infiltrated the building. While three men remained downstairs to keep watch, two assailants forced the night receptionist, Abderrahmane Ouatiki—who is now a plaintiff in the case—to lead them to Kardashian’s suite.
According to testimony, they compelled him to act as an interpreter as they demanded Kardashian’s jewellery at gunpoint.
The robbers then fled the scene, leaving behind a shaken victim and an international media frenzy.
Though the arrests were swift, with police apprehending the suspects in January 2017, most of the stolen jewellery—including the prized engagement ring—has never been recovered.
Still, DNA evidence linked two of the primary suspects, Aomar Ait Khedache, 69, and Yunice Abbas, 71, to the scene of the crime. Both men have confessed to their involvement during the course of the investigation.
“We didn’t mean to hurt anyone,” Abbas reportedly told the court. “We just wanted the jewellery.”
However, prosecutors have rejected such statements as attempts to minimize the psychological damage inflicted on Kardashian and others involved.
As the court prepares to deliver its verdict, the trial stands as a stark reminder of the perils of fame and the vulnerabilities even the most public figures can face.
While the defendants may appear frail today, the case has centered not on their current condition but on the fear, violence, and trauma they allegedly caused nearly ten years ago.
For Kim Kardashian and those impacted, justice now lies in the hands of the court.
Aomar Ait Khedache, one of the key figures accused in the infamous Paris robbery of Kim Kardashian, has denied being the mastermind behind the 2016 heist.
Though he confessed to entering Kardashian’s hotel suite, brandishing a weapon, and binding her hands, he insisted he was never aggressive.
“I never showed violence, especially not towards a woman,” Khedache claimed, communicating through a sign language interpreter due to his current condition—he is now disabled, deaf, and mute.
Despite his admission of involvement, he rejected any claims of being the operation’s leader.
His legal team appealed to the court for compassion, citing his failing health and lack of threat to society.
“There is no future crime to fear from a man in this condition,” said Frank Berton, Khedache’s defense attorney. “Sending him to prison at his age is equivalent to a life sentence.”
The lawyers emphasized that Khedache’s current state should be weighed against the gravity of his actions, especially given the irreversible toll already taken by his declining physical and mental faculties.
Another defendant, Yunice Abbas, spoke candidly to the court on Friday, expressing deep remorse for his role in the crime.
Suffering from Parkinson’s disease and recovering from recent heart surgery, Abbas offered a sincere apology.
“I am truly sorry for what I was capable of doing,” he stated, addressing the judge and jury with visible emotion.
His frail appearance and softened demeanor painted a stark contrast to the calculated ruthlessness of the crime he helped commit.
Also among the accused was a man who had previously worked as a chauffeur for the Kardashian family.
Prosecutors alleged that he tipped off the robbers by providing key details about Kardashian’s whereabouts. He has denied the charges, maintaining he had no knowledge of any plot.
Another man, accused of serving as the getaway driver, is also standing trial. Prosecutors argue that while these roles may not have been as visible, they were essential to the success of the crime.
Last week, the courtroom fell silent as Kim Kardashian gave her testimony during a marathon five-hour session.
Speaking through an interpreter, the reality star recounted the horror of that night with poise, though she occasionally faltered under the weight of the memory.
“There were moments I thought I might be raped or killed,” she admitted, tears forming in her eyes. “I wouldn’t wish that kind of fear on anyone—not even my worst enemy.”
Her words hung heavy in the room, particularly as she stood just meters from those accused of turning her life upside down.
One particularly emotional moment came when Kardashian spoke of a watch that had been stolen—a sentimental piece given to her by her late father.
“It wasn’t just jewellery they took,” she said, her voice cracking. “They stole a part of my history, my memories. That watch was priceless.”
When the court president, David De Pas, read a letter of apology penned by Khedache, Kardashian acknowledged his contrition.
“I forgive him,” she said quietly, before adding, “But forgiveness doesn’t erase trauma. That fear still lives inside me.”
Also present throughout the trial was Abderrahmane Ouatiki, the night receptionist who was forced at gunpoint to lead the robbers to Kardashian’s room.
Once a PhD student from Algeria, Ouatiki has since abandoned his studies and left France, suffering from severe PTSD.
His lawyer made a passionate closing argument on his behalf, stating, “It is harder to be a victim when you are anonymous and poor. Not everyone can afford bodyguards to feel safe at night. But justice, we hope, will finally restore the balance.”
As the court awaits its final verdict, both well-known and unseen victims of that night continue to seek closure.
