Kim Kardashian testified in court that she feared she would be raped and murdered during the robbery in Paris.
In an emotional courtroom appearance, reality TV star Kim Kardashian openly spoke about the traumatic armed robbery she experienced in Paris nearly a decade ago. The 44-year-old teared up as she shared her harrowing experience, recounting her profound fear for her life.
"I was certain he was going to rape me," she told the judge, choking back tears. "I absolutely thought I was going to die," she added. During the robbery in a Parisian hotel, one of the robbers exposed Kim's naked body as he tied her up at gunpoint.
The trial, now underway, alleges that the men robbed Kim at gunpoint in October 2016. Arriving at court to confront the accused, Kim recalled her love for Paris, describing it as a "magical place," before breaking down as she recounted the robbery and her subsequent "confusion" when two men entered her room dressed as police officers.
"I had fallen asleep naked with a robe on, I was flustered," she told the court. Describing the man who tied her up, Kim said, "I feel like because the guy who tied me up could see how frantic I was, at that moment he felt like a father... It felt like he wanted me to know that I'd be OK if I just shut up."
However, after the men began arguing in French, the previously "fatherly" man grew aggressive, violently grabbing Kim's naked body. She was not physically harmed during the incident but was dragged across the room and down the hallway by her arms, which were bound together. The robbers made off with jewels worth an estimated $10 million, including Kanye West's $4.5 million diamond ring and a $5.6 million jewelry box.
Testifying in support of Kim, her longtime stylist Simone Harouche described the terrifying moment she heard Kim's screams of terror. Sleeping in a separate apartment, Harouche went on to hide in her shower, calling Kim's sister Kourtney and informing her security guard that "something terrible was going on upstairs."
When asked if she believed posting images of expensive jewellery would make them a target, Harouche replied, "Just because a woman wears jewellery doesn't make her a target. That's like saying because a woman wears a short skirt she deserves to be raped."
The trial, which is being held in front of three judges and six jury members, is due to conclude by the end of the week. Kim has bravely faced her fears to provide testimony that will hopefully bring closure to this harrowing event.
- Amidst the ongoing trial, the topic of discussion in general-news outlets has expanded beyond the crime-and-justice aspect of Kim Kardashian's Paris robbery to encompass her emotional account, making headlines in entertainment news.
- As the trial unfolds, some experts in the field of celebrity culture and war on crime are speculating on the potential impact of Kim Kardashian's courtroom testimony on the public's perception of entertainment personalities being victims of violent crimes, offering a new perspective in the broader discourse on crime-and-justice matters.
