Trial Begins in Paris over 2016 Gunpoint Robbery of Kim Kardashian

Kim Kardashian attends the 2019 Creative Arts Emmy Awards on September 14, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Getty Images/AFP)
Kim Kardashian attends the 2019 Creative Arts Emmy Awards on September 14, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Getty Images/AFP)
TT

Trial Begins in Paris over 2016 Gunpoint Robbery of Kim Kardashian

Kim Kardashian attends the 2019 Creative Arts Emmy Awards on September 14, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Getty Images/AFP)
Kim Kardashian attends the 2019 Creative Arts Emmy Awards on September 14, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Getty Images/AFP)

Ten suspects go on trial in Paris on Monday over the 2016 robbery of the US celebrity Kim Kardashian, which saw some $10 million worth of jewelry stolen from the reality TV star and influencer.

Kardashian, now 44 -- who left Paris traumatized hours after the robbery on the night of October 2-3, 2016 -- is due to testify at the trial on May 13 in a court appearance that will be a major event in itself.

Those on trial are mainly men in their 60s and 70s with previous criminal records and underworld nicknames like "Old Omar" and "Blue Eyes" that recall the old-school French bandits of 1960s and 1970s film noirs, AFP said.

Kardashian, then 35, was threatened with a gun to the head and tied up with her mouth taped up. The theft was the biggest against a private individual in France in the past 20 years.

The trial will also go into how the perpetrators received the information as to where Kardashian was staying during Paris Fashion Week, and picked the very moment when her bodyguard was absent, accompanying her sister Kourtney to a night club.

It is thought Kardashian's frequent posts about her wealth, personal life and whereabouts may have facilitated the perpetrators' actions. The trial gets under way from 1230 GMT.

Haul never recovered

The star was staying at an exclusive hotel in central Paris favored by celebrities when two armed and masked men stormed into her room at around 3:00 am after arriving at the establishment by bicycle.

They shouted that they wanted the diamond engagement ring from her now ex-husband, the US rapper Kayne West.

Kardashian had been showing it off on her social media channels -- it alone was valued at $4 million (3.5 million euros).

They made off with the ring among $10 million worth of jewels.

The only item recovered was a diamond necklace dropped in the street while the thieves escaped.

It all lasted just 10 minutes, with Kardashian's bodyguard arriving to rescue his client after he was alerted.

The suspects were arrested three months after the robbery, through DNA evidence.

But the gold seized was apparently melted down and investigators, who took hundreds of thousands of euros from the suspects when they were arrested, believe that much of the stolen haul was sold in Belgium.

'Easy' heist

Twelve suspects were charged, with 10 going on trial from Monday. One died in March this year and another is to be tried separately for health reasons.

"It wasn't a major armed robbery" but an "easy" heist, said the main suspect, Aomar Ait Khedache, 68, known as "Old Omar". His DNA from the scene helped investigators find him and the co-defendants.

He admitted tying up Kardashian, but disputes investigators' claims that he was the mastermind behind the robbery.

He says he was approached by an unnamed "sponsor" who suggested the scheme on behalf of an "informant" very close to the star, who then gave them the green light.

According to his lawyer, Khedache now has severe hearing and speaking problems and can only express himself in writing.

Another key suspect is Didier Dubreucq, 69, known as "Blue Eyes", accused of being the second person who stormed into Kardashian's room. He denies the charges.

Yunice Abbas, 71, meanwhile stayed in the lobby while the two other men went up to her room, it is alleged.

He controversially sought to capitalize on the crime by writing a book titled: "I Kidnapped Kim Kardashian".

Others on trial are accused of being facilitators and informants, including Gary Madar, the brother of Kardashian's long-serving Paris driver.

He is accused of supplying information about her movements, which he denies.

Despite the "media hype", the trial "must allow for calm debates", warned one of the defense lawyers, Margot Pugliese.

The trial is due to last until May 23.



Denzel Washington Receives Surprise Honorary Palme d'Or at Cannes Premiere for 'Highest 2 Lowest'

US actor Denzel Washington receives the Honorary Palme d'Or from US director and executive producer Spike Lee ahead of the screening of the film "Highest 2 Lowest" at the 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France, on May 19, 2025. SAMEER AL-DOUMY/Pool via REUTERS
US actor Denzel Washington receives the Honorary Palme d'Or from US director and executive producer Spike Lee ahead of the screening of the film "Highest 2 Lowest" at the 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France, on May 19, 2025. SAMEER AL-DOUMY/Pool via REUTERS
TT

Denzel Washington Receives Surprise Honorary Palme d'Or at Cannes Premiere for 'Highest 2 Lowest'

US actor Denzel Washington receives the Honorary Palme d'Or from US director and executive producer Spike Lee ahead of the screening of the film "Highest 2 Lowest" at the 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France, on May 19, 2025. SAMEER AL-DOUMY/Pool via REUTERS
US actor Denzel Washington receives the Honorary Palme d'Or from US director and executive producer Spike Lee ahead of the screening of the film "Highest 2 Lowest" at the 78th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France, on May 19, 2025. SAMEER AL-DOUMY/Pool via REUTERS

Denzel Washington sandwiched a whirlwind trip to the Cannes Film Festival, in between Broadway performances, for the premiere of Spike Lee's “Highest 2 Lowest” on Monday — and was rewarded with a surprise: an honorary Palme d'Or.

Cannes had flipped around some of its scheduling to accommodate Washington's speedy France trip, which came on his lone off-day while performing “Othello” in New York. Cannes Film Festival chief Thierry Frémaux surprised Washington with the award before the Monday night premiere, The Associated Press reported.

“This is my brother, right here,” said the film’s director, Spike Lee, who passed the award to Washington.

“This is a total surprise for me,” said Washington.

The festival usually gives out one or two honorary Palmes each edition — last year, the awardees were Studio Ghibli and George Lucas. Last week, Robert De Niro received one on the festival's opening night. De Niro's award was announced in advance, but surprise prizes aren't unheard of: In 2022, Tom Cruise was presented with a surprise honorary Palme d'Or just before the screening of “Top Gun: Maverick.”

The premiere also had another surprise: Rihanna attended and walked the carpet afterward with partner A$AP Rocky. Earlier this month, she revealed at the Met Gala that she was pregnant with their third child.

While the festival's photo calls usually happen the day after a film's premiere, Cannes hosted one for “Highest 2 Lowest” earlier Monday so Washington could attend. The actor, playfully posing with Lee and co-star A$AP Rocky, showed no signs of jet lag and left once the screening began.

“He told me to tell you: Thank you for the love,” Lee told the crowd after the screening. “He's on Broadway doing ‘Othello,’ so it really took a lot for him to fly here. Let's give it up for Denzel Washington, please.”

Lee also came to Cannes with obligations back in New York on his mind. He arrived at the film’s premiere decked out in Knicks colors and wearing a blue and orange striped suit. Lee ended his brief speech in the Palais by hollering: “New York Knicks!”

That Washington would be able to make the trip had been a sticking point for Cannes.

When the festival first announced its lineup last month, “Highest 2 Lowest” wasn't included. Within hours, however, Lee himself announced the film was heading to Cannes. Representatives for the festival said they had been waiting for confirmation that Washington would attend to walk the red carpet.

“Highest 2 Lowest,” a remake of Akira Kurosawa's 1963 film “High and Low,” will be released in theaters by A24 on Aug. 22 before streaming on Apple TV+ on Sept. 5.