Kim Kardashian will testify at Paris jewellery theft trial: lawyer

Kim Kardashian to Testify in Paris Trial Over 2016 Armed Robbery

Paris (AFP) – American reality TV icon Kim Kardashian is set to return to Paris to testify in person at the highly anticipated trial of six individuals accused of robbing her at gunpoint in 2016. The trial, described as one of the most significant heists involving an individual in modern French history, is scheduled to begin on April 28 and run through May 23.

Kardashian, who was the victim of the multi-million-euro robbery, will appear in court on May 13, according to her U.S. attorney Michael Rhodes. Her testimony will form a central part of the trial, shedding light on the traumatic night she endured during Paris Fashion Week nearly eight years ago.

On the night of October 2-3, 2016, Kardashian—then 36 years old—was staying in a private luxury residence in the French capital. Several masked men, some impersonating police officers, infiltrated the premises. Two of the intruders forced their way into her suite, held her at gunpoint, and demanded that she hand over a valuable diamond ring gifted to her by her then-husband, rapper Kanye West.

Kardashian later recounted that one of the assailants spoke English with a heavy French accent, ordering her to surrender the ring. She was subsequently tied up, gagged, and locked in the bathroom, while the gang proceeded to steal millions of euros worth of gold and diamond jewelry.

The haul included an 18.88-carat, nearly flawless diamond ring valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars, along with additional high-value items. In total, the stolen jewelry was estimated to be worth around six million euros (roughly $6.8 million).

The robbery stunned fans around the world and drew widespread media attention, not only due to the audacity of the crime but also because of Kardashian’s celebrity status. The incident led her to scale back her public appearances and social media presence for a time, citing emotional trauma and a reassessment of her public life.

French police arrested several suspects four months later in coordinated raids in Paris and the south of France. Among the six men now standing trial is 67-year-old Aomar Ait Khedache—known as “Old Omar”—believed to be the mastermind behind the operation. The accused face a range of serious charges including armed robbery, kidnapping, and membership in a criminal gang.

One of the alleged robbers, Yunice Abbas, famously fled the scene on a bicycle and accidentally dropped a diamond-encrusted cross valued at 30,000 euros, which was later discovered by a passer-by. Despite this and a few other small items being recovered, the majority of the stolen jewelry has never been found and is suspected to have been smuggled out and sold in Belgium.

As the trial unfolds, Kardashian’s return to the witness stand will be closely watched by both the public and media, bringing renewed focus to one of the most dramatic celebrity robberies of the 21st century.