Kim Kardashian Testifies in Paris Court About 2016 Robbery, Feared Rape and Death
Reality television star and businesswoman Kim Kardashian testified in a Paris court on May 13th, providing a harrowing account of the 2016 robbery in which she was held at gunpoint and robbed of millions of dollars worth of jewelry. Her testimony detailed the fear and trauma she experienced during the heist, revealing that she believed she was going to be raped and killed.
Kardashian, accompanied by her mother Kris Jenner, arrived at the courthouse in a black van. Dressed in a black suit and wearing jewelry, she entered the courtroom where cameras were prohibited and her testimony was not broadcast live.
During her testimony, Kardashian described the terrifying events of the night. She recounted being in her hotel room packing for departure when she heard loud stomping on the stairs around 3 a.m. "I absolutely thought I was going to die," she stated, shedding tears. "I thought about my sister, thought she would walk in and see me shot dead and have that memory in her forever."
Kardashian’s sister, Kourtney Kardashian, had accompanied her on the trip to Paris for fashion week. However, Kourtney was not present at the hotel during the robbery.
The suspects, a group of nine men and one woman, are accused of tying Kardashian up with zip ties and duct tape before stealing jewelry, including a $4 million engagement ring given to her by her then-husband, rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West.
Kardashian told the court about her love for Paris. "I came to Paris for fashion week. Paris was always a place that I loved so much."
She vividly described the moment the robbers entered her bedroom. "And in my bedroom comes in a few police officers, or that I assumed were police officers as they were in police uniforms. Then I heard one of the gentlemen forcefully say ‘ring! ring!’ in English, with an accent, pointing," she said.
Overwhelmed with fear, Kardashian pleaded for her life. "I was pretty hysterical and I just looked at the concierge and told him what is going to happen to us, I have to make it home to my babies."
She recounted fearing that she would be sexually assaulted. "She said at one point she feared she was going to be raped as the robbers threw her on the bed and one of them grabbed her leg. But he ended up tying me up and closed my legs," she stated.
Prior to Kardashian’s testimony, her stylist, Simone Harouche, who was asleep in a separate part of the same luxury hotel suite at the time of the attack, provided her own account of the terrifying ordeal. Harouche testified about the "terror" she and Kardashian felt during the robbery.
"I have babies, and I have to live – that’s what I heard her say. Take everything – I need to live," Harouche recalled. She was downstairs in the duplex suite while Kardashian was upstairs.
Harouche recounted her frantic efforts to seek help. She locked herself in the bathroom and texted Kourtney Kardashian and their bodyguard.
Harouche described Kardashian’s emotional state after the robbers left. "She was beside herself, I’ve never seen her like that before. She just was screaming and kept saying, ‘We need to get out of here, we need help, what are we going to do if they come back?’"
Harouche testified that the robbery had a profound impact on her life. She cried during her testimony, revealing that she had changed careers and undergone therapy due to the post-traumatic stress she experienced. The robbery left her fearful of being around celebrities.
The trial involves nine men and one woman. Five of the men face charges of armed robbery and kidnapping, potentially facing life imprisonment. The remaining individuals are charged with complicity in the heist or the unauthorized possession of a weapon.
As the robbers fled the scene on foot and on bicycles, they lost some of the stolen jewelry, including a diamond-studded cross. A passerby discovered the cross in the street and turned it over to the police. However, the majority of the stolen jewels, including the $4 million engagement ring, remain missing.
The testimony of Kim Kardashian and Simone Harouche provided chilling details of the 2016 robbery and highlighted the lasting emotional impact of the crime. The trial continues as the court seeks to determine the guilt and appropriate sentences for the individuals involved in the heist. The outcome of the trial remains uncertain, but the testimonies have undoubtedly shed light on the trauma experienced by the victims. The search for the missing jewelry also remains ongoing. The robbery, which garnered international attention, continues to be a significant event in Kardashian’s life and a reminder of the vulnerability that can accompany fame and fortune. The trial aims to bring closure to this chapter and provide a measure of justice for the victims.
