Kim Kardashian theft suspect says he regrets ‘trauma’ he brought about her

PARIS — A key defendant within the trial of a bunch accused of robbing Kim Kardashian at gunpoint in Paris again in 2016 and stealing $9 million value of bijou, has mentioned he has come to remorse the trauma he brought about the fact star-turned-business mogul within the years since.

Yunice Abbas, maybe the best-known defendant within the trial, mentioned that regardless of a yearslong felony historical past, this was the primary time he had actually come to acknowledge the “trauma” he had brought about his sufferer.

“I remorse it, not as a result of I received caught, however as a result of… there was a trauma,” Abbas, now 72, mentioned earlier than a jury Tuesday as proceedings in opposition to the ten individuals charged in reference to the 2016 theft resumed after launching Monday afternoon.

The primary of a number of defendants set to testify within the trial, Abbas had beforehand confessed to his function within the heist, detailing the theft in his 2021 e book, “I Kidnapped Kim Kardashian.”

The matter of the e book got here up throughout the testimony, with Abbas saying that he was not answerable for the title and that he disputes his alleged function within the heist. He added that he was not concerned in tying up Kardashian, who was staying in Paris for town’s Trend Week, as a substitute staying downstairs to maintain watch.

Abbas and 9 others, dubbed the “grandpa robbers” in native media as a consequence of their ages — a number of the accused are of their 70s and 80s — are alleged to have performed a spread of roles within the heist together with holding Kardashian, 44, at gunpoint and being complicit in that crime.

Throughout questioning, Abbas described his felony previous — he has spent a complete of just about 20 years in jail for numerous crimes — together with the armed theft of a financial institution in Belgium. The accused mentioned that as a younger man he was fiercely against theft, however had turned to a lifetime of crime because of the dangerous affect of buddies and cash difficulties, within the hope it will show a neater path.

Abbas mentioned his household had suffered as a consequence of his crimes, including that he had “by no means had a task mannequin” himself and he had completed what he thought was wanted to attempt to present for his kids.

The accused spoke quickly throughout his testimony, his arm shaking all through, probably because of the reality he’s now affected by Parkinson’s illness. At one level the shaking was violent sufficient for him to carry one hand within the different.

Within the years for the reason that 2016 theft focusing on Kardashian, Abbas mentioned he now felt “very uneasy” with what occurred that day. However, he mentioned, “I can’t do something in addition to apologize.”

Kardashian had been staying at a non-public house complicated within the French capital when 5 of the accused are alleged to have gained entry into the constructing and robbed her at gunpoint, taking gadgets together with her engagement ring from then-husband Ye, the rapper previously referred to as Kanye West. The 5 different defendants are accused of associated offenses, together with planning and giving tipoffs on Kardashian’s whereabouts.

Within the years for the reason that alleged incident, one defendant has died, whereas the case of one other, age 80, has been separated from that of the opposite defendants as a consequence of medical points.

Along with Abbas, these standing trial will embody Aomar Ait Khedache, 69, referred to as “Outdated Omar,” who’s alleged to have masterminded the theft; his son, Harminy, 37, accused of being the getaway driver; Didier “Blue Eyes” Dubreucq, 69; and the brother of Kardashian’s driver in Paris, Gary Madar, 35, who’s accused of tipping the others off on Kardashian’s whereabouts. Christiane Glotin, 78, can also be among the many accused, with authorities alleging she was an confederate within the heist.

At the least 4 defendants had been anticipated to be questioned in court docket on Tuesday.

Kardashian herself is anticipated to look in court docket on Might 13.

The truth star and businesswoman has beforehand detailed her expertise throughout the theft, at one level tearing up in an interview with David Letterman as she described how she feared she could be sexually assaulted and probably killed throughout the assault.

“I used to be like, ‘okay, that is the time I’m going to get raped … simply put together your self,” she mentioned within the interview, wiping away tears, later describing how she feared her sister, Kourtney Kardashian, would discover her useless.

“I simply saved on excited about Kourtney,” she mentioned. “She’s going to be traumatized for the remainder of her life if she sees me.”

Gabrielle Nolin reported from Paris and Chantal Da Silva reported from London.