Kim Kardashian’s armed robbers have been found guilty. The reality star, who recently became eligible to take the bar in order to become an attorney, came face to face with the men who burst into her Paris hotel room and held her at gunpoint in October 2016.
Ten people went on trial in the French capital for their involvement in the robbery and faced charges including armed robbery and kidnapping in an organised gang. During the terrifying incident, Kim, who was in Paris for Fashion Week, was tied up and held at gunpoint by the men.
A six-member jury, led by three judges, came to a verdict today in Paris. They found the ringleader and seven others guilty, with two of the 10 defendants acquitted.
While testifying, Kim, 44, bravely told the court she feared being raped. “I was certain that was the moment that he was going to rape me, I absolutely did think I was going to die,” she said.
Before the jury retired today, Aomar Aït Khedache, 70, who personally held Kim at gunpoint, begged the star for forgiveness. “I can’t find the words to say how sorry I am. I offer a thousand apologies,” he wrote on a piece of paper with his claims being displayed on a screen inside the Voltaire Chamber of the court.
Prosecutor General Anne-Dominique Merville told the court that Aït Khedache should spend the next ten years of his life in prison. She said he was “now of a certain age and showed no risk of reoffending” but should “pay for his crimes.”
Ms Merville said Aït Khedache, who admitted taking part in the heist after his DNA was found at the scene, “now downplays the violence involved.” Kim lost $10million worth of jewellery during the raid, including her $4million engagement ring from her ex-husband, Kanye ‘Ye’ West, which has not been recovered.
While on trial, Aït Khedache denied being the mastermind behind the heisst, claiming that there was a mysterious “X or Ben,” who should bare the responsibility. But Merville stated there was sufficient proof to suggest that he “gave the orders” before heading to Antwerp, Belgium, to sell the items.
Yunice Abbas, 72, was also told he could face a ten-year jail sentence and has been the only other defendant to offer a guilty plea. While on remand, he wrote a book, I Kidnapped Kim Kardashian, which was given as a gift to the prosecutors.
Speaking to the court, he said: “Once again, I have nothing but regrets to offer you, I’m sorry for what I did.” Didier Dubreucq, 69, who was allegedly the second robber to enter Kardashian’s residence in the city, along with Aït Khedache, who is also known as “Old Omar”.
Lesser sentences were requested for other members of the gang who, like Dubreucq, had all denied any wrongdoing. The entire gang were allowed to speak to the court for the final time before the jury retired on Friday. Meanwhile, Cathy Glotin, 78, who has been branded Aït Khedache’s mistress, had continued to deny any wrongdoing.
She told the court: “I had nothing to do with this case, and look forward to being reunited with my family.” But it was heard that she offered “secretarial services” to the gang, which included providing burner phones.
The gang could have been given 30-year sentences, but due to their ages and poor health, they were offered lesser sentences. The majority of the defendants were jailed in January 2017, just three months after the robbery. They were subsequently released on bail.
If you’ve been the victim of sexual assault, you can access help and resources via www.rapecrisis.org.uk or calling the national telephone helpline on 0808 802 9999
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