Paris, (EFE).- Defendants accused of robbing Kim Kardashian at gunpoint in a luxury Paris hotel in 2016 largely denied their involvement as their trial on Monday, except in cases where investigators had irrefutable evidence against them.
10 of the 12 individuals originally charged in the case appeared before the Paris Criminal Court.
One accused died last month, and another is unable to attend due to health reasons.
Over the next four weeks, the defendants are expected to maintain that they had little or no role in the theft, in which Kardashian was robbed of jewelry valued at 10 million dollars during Paris Fashion Week.
Aomar Ait Khedache, described as the mastermind of the operation, appeared in court visibly frail, suffering from mobility and hearing problems.
Communicating by writing notes, Khedache reaffirmed his previous statements made during the investigation, denying he organized the robbery.
Though Khedache, who has a long criminal history involving theft and has spent years in prison, contested his leadership role, he itted during the investigation that he was one of two men who tied up the hotel receptionist and entered Kardashian’s suite early on Oct. 3, 2016.
Investigators linked Khedache to the crime through DNA evidence found on the duct tape used to gag Kardashian, and he was also identified by the receptionist.
Marc-Alexandre Boyer, alleged to have accompanied Khedache into Kardashian’s room, rejected all accusations against him on Monday.
He only acknowledged that he knew his father, also charged in the case, had a gun, similar to the one the receptionist described.
According to prosecutors, the two armed intruders demanded Kardashian’s wedding ring, a gift from then-husband rapper Kanye West, worth 4 million dollars.
They then filled bags with additional jewelry, tied her up, and left her in the bathtub.
Meanwhile, three other men stayed in the hotel reception area to keep watch.
One of them, Yunice Abbas, itted participating in the robbery after investigators matched his DNA to the plastic tie used to restrain the receptionist.
“I did participate in the robbery of Mrs. Kardashian,” Abbas told the court, although he contested being charged with kidnapping.
He also denied involvement in planning the heist and said he was paid 69,000 dollars by Harmin Ait Khedache, the son of Aomar Ait Khedache.
Harmin Ait Khedache is accused of driving the robbers to the hotel, though he claims he was unaware of their intentions.
Investigators, however, allege he operated a burner phone used exclusively for communication among the group.
Beyond the core group that committed the robbery, several others face charges of complicity.
Christiane Glotin, long-term partner of Aomar Ait Khedache, is accused of serving as a key link to two other suspects: Gary Madar, brother of an executive at a luxury car rental service used by Kardashian in Paris, and Florus Heroui, a bar manager an in a celebrity-frequented venue in the city center.
The trial has revived public interest in one of the most high-profile robberies involving a major celebrity and is expected to scrutinize the lapses in security that allowed the heist to take place. EFE
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