Paris – Eight people were convicted on Friday for crimes related to the robbery at a hotel to Kim Kardashian in 2016, who lost millions of dollars in jewels during the terrifying robbery.
One of the 10 defendants was totally acquitted of the planning and execution positions of the armed robbery during the Paris Fashion Week in 2016, while another was convicted of a arms charge that arose from Kardashian’s investigation, but was not directly related to the original crime.
Years of French bureaucracy delayed the trial almost a decade, despite the fact that the defendants were arrested a few months later, after the discovery of DNA at the scene of the facts by the police.
The three judges and six jurors issued their verdict shortly after 8:00 pm (local time). The nine -members panel had to reach an absolute majority of seven to be issued sentence.
All convicted can avoid prison if they remain out of criminal legal risk in the coming years, according to sentences issued with verdicts on Friday night.
The defendants remained in prison since their arrest and were released on Friday night.
“I am deeply grateful to the French authorities for seeking justice in this case,” Kardashian said after the statement of guilt. “The crime was the most terrifying experience of my life, and left a lasting impact on me and my family. Although I will never forget what happened, I believe in the power of growth and responsibility, and I pray for everyone’s healing. I maintain my commitment to defend justice and promote a fair legal system,” he added.
Most of the defendants are between 60 and 70 years old and arrived at the court with orthopedic shoes and canes. Some suffer from diseases such as Cancer and Parkinson, and their testimony deeply contrasts with that of Kardashian, 44, who marked a moment of great drama.
“I thought I was going to die,” he said before the court last week. “I have babies. I have to go home. They can take everything. I just have to go home,” he said he thought.
That was the early morning of October 3, 2016, when two men allegedly broke into their luxurious private apartment, tying his ankles while wearing only one gown. While one of them pointed to him with a gun, he was robbed of $ 9 million in jewelry, including a 20 -carat diamond ring that her then husband, Kanye West, gave her, according to the Prosecutor’s Office.
They fled by bicycle and foot, according to the Prosecutor’s Office, only to be arrested months later. Apart from a large cross that fell during the escape, none of the jewels has been recovered.
Eight of the defendants declare themselves not guilty. Two have admitted to having had some role, although they claim that the Prosecutor’s Office has exaggerated this fact.
One of them, Yunice Abbas, now 72, wrote a book entitled “I kidnap Kim Kardashian.”
In a final statement before the court on Friday, Abbas declared: “I only have regrets to offer them and I will assume my responsibilities.”
Ababs was declared guilty of conspiracy, theft with a weapon and kidnapping of the victim without voluntary release.
The Prosecutor’s Office affirms that the brain of the crime was Aomar Ait Khedache, 69, an alleged veteran of the Parisian underworld known as “the old Omar.” He admitted his participation, but states that he was only a satin soldier. He states that the true leader was someone called “X” or “Ben”, who according to the Prosecutor’s Office does not exist.
Khedache was convicted of robbery with a weapon and kidnapping of the victim without voluntary release.
The Prosecutor’s Office requests 10 years in jail for Khedache and Abbas, as well as for the coacusados Didier Dubreucq and Mar-Alexander Boyer.
Dubreucq was declared guilty of conspiracy, theft with weapon and retention of the victim in a kidnapping regime without voluntary release.
Khedache’s son and alleged driver of the flight, Harminy Ait Khedache, was declared guilty of complicity in the escape and committing theft under a weapon threat.
Fleurus heroui was declared guilty of falsification, while Gary Madar was acquitted of conspiracy and complicity in the escape.
Khedache’s girlfriend and alleged accomplice, Christiane Glotin, was declared guilty of conspiracy and complicity in the escape.
Khedache, deaf -mute and with a condition that forces him to go to the bathroom every hour, was one of the defendants who delivered a note of apology to Kardashian while she testified.
“The past is irreversible, but I hope this letter allows you to gradually forget the trauma you have experienced because of me,” says the letter.
She replied: “I forgive him for what happened, but that does not change emotions, feeling, trauma or the fact that my life has changed forever.”
However, one of the defense lawyers, Henri de Beauregard, warned during the trial that they would not be fooled by the image of “friendly elders” or for the “myth of friendly retirees, Robin Hood style.”
This story was originally published in NBC News.
The Associated Press and David K. Li contributed.
