Kim Kardashian appears in a Paris court once again, decade following a high-profile fashion week jewelry heist.
Rewritten Article:
In the heart of Paris, the long-awaited trial for the 2016 jewellery heist targeting none other than Kim Kardashian began back in late April. This high-profile case, worth approximately 10 million dollars, has garnered significant media attention, with a staggering 500 journalists accredited and a throng of fans close by, hoping to catch a glimpse of the reality TV superstar.
"We're here for Kim and to stand by her side," said Clement Treboutte, waiting eagerly with a group of friends. "We want justice to prevail."
A fellow enthusiast, Leo, shared similar sentiments, saying, "We're here to witness Kim in person, so why not?"
Kardashian is poised to confront her Parisian attackers. With her lawyers confirming her intention, she's slated to take the stand at 2.00 pm (1200 GMT) and set to address the press afterward.
mediaCourtside, Paris's historic Ile de la Cite buzzed early Tuesday with fans showing their support for the celebrity.
On the fateful night of 2-3 October, 2016, Kardashian fell victim to an armed robbery, locked away in an exclusive, discreet hotel in central Paris. Threatened with a gun and bound with tape, the masked men made off with millions of dollars' worth of jewels, including a diamond ring from her then-husband, rapper Kanye West, worth 3.5 million euros.
Dubbed the "heist of the century" by French media, this crime marked the most valuable private robbery in France in the past two decades.
The majority of the ten suspects on trial are seasoned criminals in their 60s and 70s, donning underworld nicknames akin to those of French criminal legends from the dark ages of film noir.
According to investigator Michel Malecot, while these individuals form a skilled team, they made critical errors during the robbery, leaving behind DNA evidence that eventually led to their identification.
Aomar Ait Khedache, better known as "Old Omar," has confessed to binding Kardashian but denies masterminding the robbery. Another defendant, Yunice Abbas, accounts for the chaos in a book he wrote about the heist, recounting his tumble when his escape bag snagged on his bicycle's wheel.
Gary Madar, Kardashian's brother-in-law, is accused of tipping off the suspects about her presence in Paris. His lawyer has dismissed these claims, noting that Kardashian's 350 million online followers were already aware of her location.
The evening of the robbery could have taken a different turn had Kardashian joined her sister Kourtney for a night out on the town instead of staying in the hotel. Her designated driver had been working for 21 consecutive hours and requested a replacement for the nightclub trip. Fortunately, the replacement, Mohammed Q., and a Kardashian bodyguard, Pascal D., rushed back to the hotel after Kardashian tried to reach them and didn't respond when they contacted her.
"I could see the lift signaling the first floor, where Kim was staying," Pascal D. testified in court. "When I arrived, Kim was in a distressed state, crying hysterically. I asked her what happened, and she said she'd been robbed."
The trial is set to conclude on 23 May.
(with AFP)
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- The high-profile trial in Paris, involving international figures such as Kim Kardashian and international crimes like the 2016 jewellery heist, has been a topic of general-news discussion and entertainment news, with hundreds of journalists covering it.
- Despite the critical errors made during the robbery, several seasoned criminals on trial in France are known for their skill, earning nicknames reminiscent of French criminal legends from the past.
- Beyond seeking justice for Kim Kardashian, many fans have traveled to France to witness the trial and possibly catch a glimpse of the reality TV superstar, making this event a significant international news story and an item of interest for entertainment news and crime-and-justice coverage.
