Proceedings have commenced in the highly anticipated trial of 10 individuals alleged to have robbed Kim Kardashian at a Paris hotel in 2016.
Kardashian, the prominent reality television personality and entrepreneur, was reportedly bound and held at gunpoint in her upscale suite during Paris Fashion Week.
The assailants are accused of stealing approximately $10 million (£7.5 million) in jewellery, which included a $4 million (£2.9 million) diamond engagement ring from then-husband Kanye West.
Within a 19th-century courtroom adorned with historic tapestries, jurors were presented with a compelling portrait of the diverse group suspected of orchestrating the heist.
Among the first to appear was 71-year-old Yunice Abbas, whose character was explored through a “enquête de personnalité”—a customary French legal report detailing a defendant’s background. These profiles examine facets such as familial history, personal conduct, and employment, aiding the jury’s understanding.
The court reviewed Abbas’s extensive criminal history, which spans minor infractions, drug trafficking, and bank robberies, as well as a troubled upbringing in Algeria that included the loss of two siblings.
Having spent nearly a third of his life incarcerated, Abbas has admitted involvement in the robbery and authored a memoir titled I Held Up Kim Kardashian. However, presiding judge David De Pas questioned whether the book reflected pride in the crime, a claim Abbas refuted.
When asked about remorse, Abbas stated he felt regret following the Kardashian incident, saying, “It opened my eyes.”
He recounted that media coverage of the event while in prison made him aware of the profound impact on Kardashian, noting, “We just grabbed the lady’s handbag but I have discovered there’s trauma behind it.”
Attention also turned to Gary Madar, 35, whose brother’s firm provided transportation services to the Kardashians. Madar, a father of two, is alleged to have relayed information about Kardashian’s whereabouts on the night of the theft.
Employed as a customer service agent at airports for the transport company, Madar assisted VIPs including the Kardashians, and met them on several occasions.
He also worked at a café owned by another defendant, Florus Héroui, 52, whom investigators believe was given information by Madar about Kardashian.
Madar has denied any involvement, with his legal counsel insisting there is “no solid proof” linking him to the crime.
Another defendant, 78-year-old Marc Boyer, accused of supplying the weapon used in the incident, was questioned extensively. He voiced regret that his son, Marc-Alexandre Boyer—also among the accused—had been influenced by “thieves” and “crooks.”
Testimony from further defendants is expected throughout the week, leading up to 13 May, when Kim Kardashian is scheduled to give evidence.
The court anticipates an influx of the approximately 400 journalists covering the proceedings, raising concerns about accommodating the media presence on the day of Kardashian’s appearance.
Of the original 12 individuals arrested in 2017, only 10 will appear in court; one passed away last month, and another, aged 81, will be excused due to advanced dementia.
Aomar Ait Khedache, another defendant expected to testify on Wednesday, is now nearly deaf and mute and will communicate his responses in writing.
This trial unfolds more than eight years after the burglary.
Patricia Tourancheau, a veteran crime journalist and author on the case, explained to the BBC that an influx of major terrorism cases delayed the process in Paris courts, resulting in a backlog.
Tourancheau further noted that defendants’ age and health concerns kept them largely out of pre-trial detention, contributing to the delay.
“Once they were freed it felt less urgent for judges to bring this to trial,” Tourancheau commented.