Kim Kardashian takes stand in Paris trial over 2016 armed theft, says she thought he was going to be raped and killed

Paris — Kim Kardashian took the witness stand Tuesday within the trial over the 2016 armed theft wherein a masked gang made off with $10 million value of her jewellery as she visited the French capital. Kardashian testified that one member of the gang pulled her to him whereas she was in only a bathrobe.

“I used to be sure that was the second that he was going to rape me,” Kardashian stated. “I completely did suppose I used to be going to die,” she added.

“I thought of my sister, thought she would stroll in and see me shot lifeless and have that reminiscence in her perpetually,” she instructed the courtroom, in accordance with the Reuters information company.

Kardashian testified the theft occurred at round 3 a.m. at her lodge. She was in mattress about to go to sleep when she heard individuals stomping up the steps after which getting into her bed room carrying police uniforms.

Kardashian stated that after they acquired inside her suite, the masked thieves pointed a gun at her.

“Then I heard one of many gents forcefully say, ‘Ring! Ring!’ in English, with an accent, pointing,” she instructed the courtroom, in accordance with Reuters, apparently referring to the $4 million diamond ring given to her by her then husband Kanye West, now often called Ye. The couple settled for divorce in 2022.

“It was on the finish of the mattress, so he grabs my leg and pulls me towards him on the mattress so the gown is opened and all the pieces is uncovered,” Kardashian stated. “And that was the second once I thought he would rape me. However he ended up tying me up and closed my legs.”

On the central Paris courthouse the place the trial is going down, there was intense safety and crowd management measures in place. The courtroom opened early to permit journalists and members of the general public entry forward of Kardashian’s afternoon look.

Flanked by 4 bodyguards, Kardashian entered the courthouse by the rear entrance. As she mounted the stone steps, she turned, took off her darkish sun shades and smiled on the gathered crowd of followers, curious passersby and press photographers.

Wearing black, along with her hair up in a chignon, the movie star was accompanied by her mom, Kris Jenner.

The listening to shouldn’t be being broadcast publicly, as France not often permits cameras in courtrooms. Some 400 reporters utilized to attend the trial, however there have been solely 40 locations allotted for media contained in the courtroom. A facet room was arrange for 200 extra journalists to look at a dwell transmission from contained in the courtroom.

Kardashian’s attorneys stated she was decided to testify in individual concerning the night time she was allegedly tied up and robbed at gunpoint whereas she was in Paris for Trend Week. Ten individuals — 9 males and a lady — face costs together with theft and kidnapping in opposition to the American media character and the concierge of the residence the place she was staying on the night time of Oct. 2, 2016.

Earlier than the movie star took the stand herself, her longtime friend-turned-stylist Simone Harouche instructed the courtroom on Tuesday that she heard Kardashian begging for her life in the course of the assault within the lodge suite they had been sharing.

“‘I’ve infants and I have to dwell!’ That’s what she saved on saying, ‘Take all the pieces. I have to dwell,'” Harouche instructed the courtroom. “I used to be scared that she was raped or violated. I believed the worst.”

Prosecutors have instructed the courtroom that that when the gang, dressed as law enforcement officials, arrived on the luxurious suites lodge identified solely as “The No Tackle” the place Kardashian was staying, they demanded that the concierge, at gunpoint, information them to “the rapper’s spouse,” a reference to her then husband.

In interviews and on her household’s actuality TV present, Kardashian has described being terrified in the course of the intrusion, pondering she was going to be raped and killed.

“They dragged me out to the hallway on high of the steps, that is once I noticed the gun, like clear as day,” she stated on her present “Preserving Up with the Kardashians,” including: “It makes me so upset enthusiastic about it.”

The robbers, a few of whom escaped on bicycles, have been dubbed “the Grandpa robbers” as a lot of the suspects had been of their 60s on the time of the heist.

As they fled, they dropped a diamond and platinum cross that was discovered the subsequent morning by a neighborhood resident. The remainder of the haul has not been recovered.

The DNA of two of the accused was discovered on the scene, and so they have admitted collaborating within the theft. Aomar Ait Khedache, now 69, is accused of masterminding the heist. Often known as “Previous Omar,” he reportedly instructed investigators he had no thought who Kardashian was, however had heard from a waiter good friend concerning the wonderful jewellery she wore when she was out eating in Paris.

Khedache reportedly wrote to Kardashian in 2017, whereas he was in custody, to apologize. Her attorneys stated he wrote after he heard her communicate of how traumatic the expertise had been. He has not apologized in courtroom.

Yunis Abbas, 71, has admitted that he acted as a lookout for the gang. In courtroom on April 29, he expressed “complete remorse” for his half within the heist. He stated he understood afterward that, “while you steal a girl’s purse, it may be traumatic” for her.

A police officer who testified for the prosecution instructed the courtroom Kardashian appeared “traumatized” within the quick aftermath of the theft.

Legal professionals for among the accused expressed concern because the trial opened final month that Kardashian’s fame would distract from the necessities of the case.

Chloe Arnoux, who represents Khedache, instructed reporters: “He’s, actually, reasonably anxious about seeing all you, journalists, as a result of he’s afraid that his case won’t be handled the identical manner it could be if there weren’t such a well-known individual concerned in it.”

Kardashian’s lawyer Michael Rhodes stated in April that the fact TV star and entrepreneur had ”great appreciation and admiration for the French judicial system,” and ”needs for the trial to proceed in an orderly style in accordance with French regulation and with respect for all events to the case.”

contributed to this report.