Verdict Due in Kim Kardashian Paris Jewelry Robbery Trial After Nearly a Decade

A verdict is coming soon in the trial of 10 people. They are accused of robbing US celebrity Kim Kardashian. The robbery happened nearly 10 years ago in Paris.

Nine men and one woman are accused. They took jewelry worth £10 million (£7.55 million). This included a diamond engagement ring. The robbery happened during Paris Fashion Week in 2016.

Prosecutors want 10 years in jail for four men. They say these men carried out the robbery. They want 6 to 8 years for the other five men and woman. These people are accused of helping in the crime.

The defendants gave their last statements in court. Then, the judge sent them away on Friday morning. The verdict should come later that day.

Many of the defendants are old and sick. Because of this, French media call them the "grandpa robbers." But the lawyers and victims say they were not harmless. Kim Kardashian said the robbery left her very scared. She was tied up and held at gunpoint.

Prosecutor Anne-Dominique Merville said the punishment should match the crime. She said the robbery was very serious and violent. She told the jury not to feel sorry for the age or health of the defendants. They were "seasoned robbers" at the time.

On the night of October 3-4, 2016, Kim Kardashian was in her room. The hotel was in central Paris. Five men broke into the hotel. Three waited downstairs. Two forced the receptionist, Abderrahmane Ouatiki, to take them to Kim’s room. He also helped as a translator. The robbers demanded she give them her jewelry, including a $4 million ring. Then, they ran away.

Police caught the suspects in January 2017. But the jewelry was never found.

DNA linked Aomar Ait Khedache, 69, and Yunice Abbas, 71, to the crime. Both said they took part. Khedache is now disabled, deaf, and mute. He said he was not the leader. He said he pointed a gun at Kim and tied her up. But he said he was never violent, especially not to a woman.

His lawyer asked the jury to think about his health. He said prison would be like a life sentence for Khedache.

Abbas has Parkinson’s disease and had heart surgery. He told the jury he was sorry for what he did.

Another man worked as a driver for the Kardashian family. He denies giving robbers information about the family. Another man is accused of being the getaway driver.

Last week, Kim Kardashian spoke in court for five hours through an interpreter. She shared her trauma from that night. She was calm but cried sometimes. She said she feared the robbers might hurt her badly.

“I don’t want anyone to feel that terror — to think they might be killed or raped,” she said. She wiped her eyes with a tissue.

Kim said the robbers also took a watch. Her late father had given it to her. “That was not just jewelry... it held my memories,” she said.

The judge read a letter from Khedache. In it, he apologized. Kim said she forgives him. But she said the pain will not go away.

The hotel receptionist, Ouatiki, was in court the whole trial. Since the robbery, he has had PTSD. He quit his studies and left France.

His lawyer said it is harder to be a victim when you are poor and unknown. Not everyone has bodyguards to feel safe. But he hopes the trial will bring justice and peace.