PARIS.- Kim Kardashian44, he appeared on Tuesday before a court in Paris to testify about the brutal robbery he suffered in October 2016, during the fashion week. The star of reality He reported to the judge how a group of criminals, armed with gun, broke into his hotel suite, tied it, gagged it and robbed jewelry valued at 10 million dollars. The trial, which has captured international attention, has focused not only on the assault, but on the reflection on the risks derived from the Public Exhibition on Social Networkstheme that was widely discussed during the audiences.
Shocked, Kardashian described the moments of terror that lived that night. He explained that, hearing strong noises at the door of his room, thought it was police, but soon understood that it was not so. “I was sure I was going to die that night”he declared in tears.
The star explained that, at that moment of anguish, he thought he was going to be raped and killed. As the assailants – who spoke with a French accent – threatened her with guns and reviewed her room, she begged for her life. “I asked them: ‘They can take everything, but I have to go home, I have babies, please'”he told the court.
The thieves acted with a detailed knowledge of the loot they were looking for. Among the stolen objects was A diamond ring valued at 3.5 million eurosgift of her then husband, rapper Kanye West.
According to the investigation, the band responsible for theft – known as “The Band of the Grandparents” for being men between 60 and 70 years with criminal records– He had planned the assault. The criminals They used social networks To follow Kardashian’s publications and, through them, they located their whereabouts. A key point in the case is the Implication of the brother’s brother’s brother From Kardashian, Gary Madar, who was accused of having alerted thieves about his presence in Paris. Madar, who replaced his brother in that turn, played a key role in the logistics of theft.
Despite the precision with which the criminals carried out the theft, they also made several mistakes that facilitated their capture. In the days after the assault, the police found A cross with six diamonds on the streetwhich had been abandoned by thieves in their flight. They also left DNA traces on the crime scenewhich allowed researchers to track the culprits.
Simone Harouche, stylist and close friend of Kardashian, also appeared before the court to give his testimony. Harourache described how, while she slept on the upper floor of the hotel, He listened to Kardashian’s screams asking for his life. “What impacted me most was to say: ‘I have babies, please, I need to live,” he recalled.
The stylist defended her friend, arguing that, although Kardashian shares details of her life with the public, That does not make it a legitimate objective of violence. “The fact that a woman uses jewels or is in a public position should not imply that she is attacked. Everyone has the right to dress as they want and live in peace,” he added.
During the hearings, the impact of celebrity public exhibition on platforms such as Instagram was addressed, which was key for thieves to track Kardashian. The 350 million Kardashian followers on the social network knew perfectly where it was at that time, which facilitated that criminals plan the robbery. “This trial has raised a very important debate about the risks of being a famous person in the digital age”said Frank Berton, defense lawyer of one of the defendants.
On the other hand, some of the defendants’ lawyers argued that Kardashian’s public visibility contributed to turning it into a target, subtracting importance from accusations that their driver alerted criminals.
One of the most emotional moments of the trial was the reading of a letter of apologies written by Aomar Ait Khedache, one of the band members. The defendant, nicknamed “the old Omar,” admitted his involvement in the robbery, although he denied having been the group leader.
Upon listening to his words, Kim Kardashian broke into tears. “I wanted to be a lawyer and fight for people … I’ve always believed in second opportunities,” he said in a broken voice. Then, addressing Ait Khedache, he added: “I forgive what happened, but that does not change the emotion, feelings, trauma and the way my life changed. Thank you for the letter”.
The defendants in this case are 10 individualssome of them with criminal records and nicknamed as members of a band of criminals of the elderly. His modus operandi was to follow high profile people using social networks to determine their locations and program high value robberies. Yunice Abás, one of those involved, was categorical when pointing out in a previous interview that “It wasn’t her, it was her diamond we wanted”. Despite his words, Abás faces serious charges along with the other members of the band.
The trial has captured worldwide attention not only for the magnitude of the robbery, but also by the figure of Kardashian, one of the most influential celebrities in the world, whose visibility in social networks allowed criminals to locate their victim with great precision.
As the trial progresses, The verdict is expected to be broadcast on May 23. This case will not only decide the future of the defendants, but will also leave the discussion about the limits of the public exposure of the celebrities and the risks that entail living under the constant scrutiny of millions of followers on digital platforms.
AFP, AP and Reuters agencies
