Kim Kardashian returned to court in Paris this month to testify about the traumatic 2016 armed robbery in which she was held at gunpoint and robbed of millions in jewelry. Speaking to People magazine after her appearance, Kardashian called it "the scariest experience of my life" and was “deeply grateful to the French authorities for pursuing justice in this case."
Eight of the 10 suspects were found guilty in the trial. However, none will serve additional prison time, as they had already completed their sentences. “The sentences are quite lenient,” said Judge David de Pas. “You have caused harm, even if you did not strike, if blood has not been shed, you have caused fear.”
Her legal team responded in a statement: “Kim appreciates the court’s decision and once again thanks the French authorities for treating her with great respect throughout the process. It has been a long journey from that terrible night back in 2016 to her standing courageously in a historic Paris courtroom to confront these criminals.
“She looks forward to putting this tragic episode behind her, as she continues working to improve the criminal justice system on behalf of victims, the innocent, and the incarcerated seeking to redeem themselves.”
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Earlier this month, nearly nine years after the robbery, Kardashian returned to Paris to testify. One of the defendants, 72-year-old Marceau Baum-Gertner, died roughly six weeks before the trial began. Another, Pierre Bouianere —believed to be the mastermind—was deemed unfit to testify due to advanced Alzheimer’s disease.
Recalling the night of the robbery during her testimony, Kardashian told the court: “I had come to Paris for Fashion Week. I’ve always loved this city. We were planning to leave the next morning, so I was packing up around 3 a.m. when I suddenly heard noises on the stairs while I was in bed.
“Several men entered my bedroom dressed as police officers—at least that’s what I thought based on their uniforms. One of them kept shouting, ‘Ring, ring!’ I panicked. I looked at the concierge and asked what was going to happen to us. I told him I have babies, I have to make it home, I have babies.”
She recounted fearing she was about to be sexually assaulted. “One of the men threw me onto the bed and grabbed my legs,” she said. “I thought the worst. But he just tied them up.”
The high-profile trial drew massive media interest, with around 400 journalists applying to attend. Only 40 were allowed inside the courtroom, while an additional 200 watched from a specially prepared room via live video feed.