Nine men, most of them in their 70s, and a 78-year-old woman, are suspected of involvement in the robbery against the American star in October 2016. Kim Kardashian was attacked by several men who broke into the suite at Hôtel de Pourtalès during the night, where they tied her up and taped her mouth.
She was robbed of jewelry worth ten million dollars, including her engagement ring worth several million, and was left tied up in the bathroom. Kardashian managed to free herself when the robbers left the hotel room.
Yunice Abbas, 72, who was in the hotel reception and threatened a receptionist with a weapon during the robbery, was the first to arrive at the Palace of Justice on Île de la Cité in Paris on Monday. Then came Aomar Aït Khedache, known as "Old Omar". Deaf and 80 percent disabled, the 68-year-old man made his way to the defendants' bench.
A frail bunch
Already at the beginning of the trial, the defendants' health status was raised by the court's chairman David de Pas, reports Le Figaro. One of them suffers from Alzheimer's disease and has been deemed unable to attend the trial. Another is undergoing chemotherapy, but has still assured that he will be present.
Another of the defendants, suspected of helping to sell the stolen jewelry, died in March.
All defendants are on bail but are under judicial supervision and are suspected of having had different roles in the robbery where Kim Kardashian, according to her own statement, "thought she was going to die".
Many leads
The reality profile is expected to attend in Paris and testify on May 13. The trial is expected to last until May 23 and is expected to provide answers on how the robbers knew where Kardashian was and how they managed to strike exactly when the star's bodyguard was away.
In less than ten minutes, the robbery was carried out – but the robbers left several traces behind. By the star's bed: a roll of duct tape. On the nightstand: a roll of black tape used to bind Kardashian and the receptionist.
DNA from Aomar Aït Khedache and Yunice Abbas was found on these. The two are also the only ones who have admitted involvement in the spectacular robbery.
