Trial Commences for Gang Accused of Robbing Kim Kardashian in Paris

In a key courtroom event, ten individuals face accusations stemming from a dramatic 2016 robbery of Kim Kardashian during Paris Fashion Week, highlighting the intertwining of crime and celebrity culture.

The long-awaited trial of ten individuals accused of robbing reality TV star Kim Kardashian in Paris has officially begun. The incident took place in 2016 when Kardashian was held at gunpoint and tied up in her luxury hotel suite during Paris Fashion Week. The brazen robbery involved the theft of millions in jewelry, including an engagement ring worth $4 million, gifted to her by then-husband Kanye West.

Within the ornate courtroom draped in 19th-century decor, the presiding judge introduced Yunice Abbas, a 71-year-old defendant who has acknowledged his involvement in the crime and even penned a memoir entitled "I Held Up Kim Kardashian." The court conducted a personality inquiry into Abbas, recounting his troubling past that features a history of crime including petty theft and bank robberies, along with a childhood marred by tragedy. Abbas expressed regret over the incident, stating he only recognized the trauma inflicted on Kardashian after seeing media coverage while incarcerated.

Attention also turned to Gary Madar, 35, who allegedly provided the gang with insider information about Kardashian’s whereabouts through his role as a customer service agent assisting VIPs arriving at Paris airports. His attorney argues that there is insufficient evidence linking Madar to the gang’s operations. Meanwhile, 78-year-old Marc Boyer faced questioning, suspected of supplying the weapon used in the heist and lamented the influence that led his son astray.

As the trial unfolds, with Kim Kardashian expected to testify on May 13, anticipation grows within the media as 400 journalists prepare for a high-profile court appearance. Notably, the case has faced delays due to backlogs in the French legal system, exacerbated by the defendants' advanced ages and health issues, with the trial now proceeding eight and a half years after the robbery incident.