Kardashian in Paris: 'I was sure I was going to die'

Kim Kardashian was personally present in court in Paris on Tuesday, 13 May to testify. The trial against nine men and one woman, who stole her jewellery worth as much as 9 million euros, had already started on Monday.

The robbery took place in the early hours of 3 October 2016 at the Hôtel de Pourtalès in Paris. The robbers had disguised themselves as police officers, allowing them to deceive the night watchman and gain access to the hotel. They hurried to the luxury suite where Kim Kardashian was sleeping alone at the time. Her bodyguard was accompanying her sister Kourtney Kardashian, who had dipped into the Parisian nightlife after a day full of fashion shows.

Robbery changed her life

The robbers entered her room and pointed a gun at the American superstar. They tied her up hand and foot on the bed. The robbers intended to steal Kim Kardashian's expensive jewellery collection. They aimed to get hold of the Cartier bracelets, the gold rings and necklaces, the Rolex, and especially the large 18.88-carat diamond engagement ring. Since Kardashian had flaunted these expensive jewels on social media multiple times that day, the robbers knew she had them with her in Paris. Moreover, she had also written on Snapchat that she was left all alone in the hotel while the rest of the party went out. Plenty of information for the robbers to spring into action.

The culprits found the jewellery and eventually all fled by bicycle. On the way, one of them fell and lost an ornament. It is suspected that the culprits headed towards Belgium with Kardashian's jewellery. Investigators on the case travelled to Antwerp several times as they suspected the gold was being melted down there.

Thanks to the French justice system

And the culprits, they turned out to be unusually old. Five of the defendants, all between 60 and 72 years old at the time of the robbery nine years ago, stand trial in the court in Paris from Monday for armed robbery and kidnapping. The other defendants are on trial for complicity in the robbery or possession of a prohibited weapon.

'I absolutely thought I was going to die', said Kim Kardashian when Judge David De Pas asked her in court in Paris on Tuesday about her thoughts during the robbery. She also declared that she is still afraid to go outside and always has several bodyguards with her, even at night. When she sleeps in a hotel, her bodyguards stay in the same hotel, which was not the case before the robbery. She never posts anything on social media in real-time anymore, except when it is publicly known that she will be somewhere.

Kardashian also thanked the French legal system for the opportunity to tell her story. However, it clearly was an emotionally heavy task for her. In a few weeks, it will be revealed what sentences the ten robbers will receive.

(SR - Source: BFMTV/Le Parisien/Nieuwsblad - Illustration: ©picture alliance/dpa/MAXPPP | Olivier Corsan)