Breaking Kim Kardashian trial live: Star to confront Paris ‘grandpa gang’ suspects accused of tying her up at gunpoint in $10 million jewellery heist EnglishHeadline

Lots of of journalists from the world over queued since daybreak exterior France’s most prestigious court docket this morning to listen to Kim Kardashian’s bombshell account how she was robbed at gunpoint in a terrifying jewel heist 9 years in the past.

The earliest reporters to reach started queueing at 5am, some 4 hours earlier than the court docket constructing opened.

Reporters vied for a restricted variety of seats contained in the Voltaire room on the Paris Palais de Justice on the coronary heart of the French capital. A second courtroom has been opened for journalists following through video feed.

Ms Kardashian is anticipated to relive the terrifying raid within the Wosky hours of three October 2016 this afternoon.

However first the court docket will hear from her assistant Simone Bretter, previously generally known as Simone Harouche, who managed to cover inside the posh resort residence throughout the raid.

Aomar Ait Khedache, one of many ‘grandpa gang’

The gang of thieves on the centre of the Kim Kardashian heist had been dubbed the ‘grandpa gang’ by the French media as most are actually of their 60s and 70s and affected by a variety of diseases together with Alzheimer’s.

They had been charged following an in depth investigation launched following the theft eight-and-a-half years in the past throughout one of many busiest weeks within the Parisian calendar – Paris Vogue Week.

Twelve suspects had been charged, however solely 10 are standing trial in Paris, 9 males and one lady, with proceedings delayed on account of Covid and different high-profile circumstances.

One of many suspects, Pierre ‘Huge Pierrot’ Bouianere, 72, was dominated unfit to enter the dock as a result of he’s affected by Alzheimer’s, whereas one other, Marceau Baum-Gertner, has since died.

These taking the stand face costs together with armed theft, membership of a legal gang, and kidnapping – which refers to Kardashian being held hostage at gunpoint. Some are accused of aiding within the organisation of the theft.

Eight of the accused deny any involvement whereas two suspects, Yunice Abbas, 72, and Aomar Ait Khedache, 70, have admitted collaborating within the heist.

The opposite males on trial embrace:

• Gary Madar: 35-year-old is accused of being an informant, probably offering details about Kardashian’s location.
• Marc Boyer: 78-year-old is accused of acquiring the gun used within the theft.
• Marc-Alexandre Boyer: 36-year-old son of Marc Boyer who’s accused of collaborating within the theft
• Harminy Ait Khedache: 38-year-old son of Omar who’s accused of tailing the truth TV star’s limousine as she was pushed across the metropolis.
• Didier Dubreucq: 69-year-old is accused of being one of many two males who entered Kim’s penthouse and put a gun to her head.
• Francois Delaporte: 61-year-old is accused of participating within the theft
• Christiane ‘Cathy’ Glotin: 78-year-old is accused of serving to to organise the Kardashian heist, and allegedly travelled to Antwerp to promote the swag – the one feminine defendant
• Florus Héroui: 52-year-old is accused of passing on details about Ms Kardashian’s actions in Paris to Outdated Omar.

Surveillance footage helped French police reconstruct the timeline of the theft, however the breakthrough got here from a hint of DNA left on the plastic ties used to bind Kardashian.

It matched Aomar Aït Khedache, a veteran legal whose DNA was within the nationwide database.

Telephone faucets and surveillance led police to others, together with Yunice Abbas and Didier Dubreucq, generally known as ‘Yeux bleus.’

Many of the accused have lengthy legal data.

Abbas later claimed he was unaware of Kardashian’s id throughout the heist.

However investigators say the lads acted with detailed planning and self-discipline. Pay as you go telephones had been activated the day earlier than the heist and deserted instantly afterward.

Kardashian pictured carrying her engagement ring in Paris days earlier than raid

Masked males walked away with tens of millions of {dollars}’ value of jewels in what was described by the French media because the ‘heist of the century’.

On the centrepiece was an 18.8-carat diamond ring given to Kardashian by her then-husband, rapper Kanye West. The jewel was valued at 3.5 million euros ($3.9 million).

Alongside the ring, a yellow gold Rolex Cosmograph Daytona, seven Cartier and Hermès bracelets, and three gold-and-diamond grills had been additionally taken.

The whole estimated worth of the raid was estimated at round $10 million.

One of many robbers, Pierre ‘Huge Pierrot’ Bouianere, 72, is believed to have dropped one platinum cross adorned with diamonds that was discovered the following morning.

The merchandise was the one piece returned to Kardashian after it was handed in at a close-by police station.

Kim Kardiashan along with her then husband Kanye West in 2015

In the present day’s trial dates again to the audacious early hours raid in October 2016 throughout Paris Vogue Week when Kim Kardashian was on the peak of movie star and married to rap celebrity Kanye West.

Ms Kardashian, then 35, was alone within the penthouse residence of her £13,500-a-night resort, dozing on the mattress in a silk night time robe, when two males disguised as policemen burst into the room and put a gun to her head.

The movie star was certain and gagged, ‘like a sausage’ and dumped within the bathtub of her ensuite lavatory whereas robbers spent 49 minutes snatching tens of millions of kilos value of gems and watches together with her 18.88 carat diamond engagement ring.

As they fled, one robber dropped a platinum cross adorned with diamonds that was discovered the following morning.

Visibly traumatised Kim Kardashian fled the nation by non-public jet after giving a short assertion to French detectives and was consoled by husband Kanye West who halted a live performance, telling followers he had a ‘household emergency’.

Ms Kardashian has been denied justice for years, with delays on bringing the case to court docket blamed on the precedence of high-profile terrorist trials.

• For extra particulars of the theft click on right here

The trial is being heard on the Palais de Justice

A brand new podcast has launched, a part of the Mail’s award-winning ‘The Trial’ collection, which seems on the aged masterminds who stand accused of enacting the 2016 theft of Kim Kardashian in her Paris resort room.

Hosted by the Mail’s acclaimed crime correspondent Caroline Cheetham and reporter in Paris Nick Fagge, the primary episode of this new collection lays the groundwork for the long-awaited trial of 10 suspects, dubbed the ‘grandpa gang’ by French media.

We’re anticipating Kim Kardashian to testify in Paris at round 2pm native time (1pm UK time).

Earlier than she provides proof, we’re anticipating to listen to from her stylist Simone Harouche.

Harouche, a pal of Kardashian who has recognized her since she was 11, was staying in Paris on the time of the raid however on a distinct flooring.

She is claimed to have locked herself in a toilet and known as Kardashian’s bodyguard Pascal Duvier, who was at a nightclub with Kim’s sisters Kourtney and Kendall.

Hey and welcome to MailOnline’s stay protection as Kim Kardashian testifies in a Paris court docket in opposition to the suspected thieves who allegedly focused her in a terrifying jewelry heist within the French capital.

9 years in the past, Kardashian was tied-up, gagged and locked in a toilet inside a luxurious resort by a bunch of thieves who had disguised themselves as cops.

She was allegedly focused by criminals after exhibiting off her jewelry on social media.

The American businesswoman and actuality TV star later fled the nation by non-public jet after chatting with French detectives.

In earlier years, she has instructed how the raid left her afraid to be alone and that she thought she could be killed by the robbers, however extra just lately that she is able to face her assailants.

Stick to us as we deliver you the most recent from Kardashian’s look within the courtroom with Nick Fagge reporting from the Paris legal court docket and Jamie Bullen in London.