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Kim Kardashian on Tuesday is set to testify against the bandits who bound and gagged her in a Paris hotel room and made off with $10 million worth of her jewelry during 2016 Fashion Week in France.
“She is committed to attending in person the trial and to confronting those who attacked her. She will do so with dignity and courage,” her French lawyers told media in Paris.
“We want to give everyone the opportunity to hear her testimony in her own words so we won’t be commenting on the substance of what she will say,” added Leonor Hennerick and Jonathan Mattout.
On the witness stand this week at the Cour D’Assises in Paris was a French detective who told the court how Kardashian, 44 – who was wearing nothing but a bathrobe – was bound by the feet and hands with small zip ties and gagged with tape at the exclusive “No Address” hotel in Paris’ 8th Arrondissement.
“We found her very traumatized. She was sitting on the sofa because she managed to free herself after her attackers left,” said Michel Malecot, chief of the anti-bandit brigade.
“We found pieces of tape, pieces of zip-ties that had been used to bind and gag the victims,” he said referring to Kardashian and the night watchman who was in the hotel lobby. Kim was alone in her room that night.
Police told a jury of six citizens and three magistrates how several members in the gang of 10 thieves – dubbed by the French press “the grandpa bandits” as most are now in their 60s and 70s and suffering from a range of illnesses including Alzheimer’s Disease – made off on bicycles through the streets of Paris after the Oct. 3 heist.
Pascal Duvier – Kim’s former bodyguard who has since been fired and sued for negligence by Kardashian’s insurance company for $6.1 million – was also grilled by the judge, who asked why the reality-TV star was alone in her room that night. Duvier had gone out clubbing with sister Kourtney and Kim’s assistant.
“I’m in charge of protecting the whole family,” Duvier said.
Only a single item – a diamond-encrusted cross – has been recovered from the robbery, found by a passerby after one of the bandits dropped it fleeing the scene on his bicycle.
Kim’s $4 million 18.8-carat diamond engagement ring from Kanye West was never found.
All 10 defendants are on trial. Kim will be questioned by the judge first, then her lawyers, followed by the prosecution and finally the defense team of teh accused thieves.
The verdict is expected on May 23.
English (US)