I thought I was going to die – I felt the gun on my back, weeping Kim Kardashian tells Paris raid trial
KIM Kardashian wept as she told a French courtroom that she thought she was about to die during a terrifying diamond heist before offering forgiveness to her robbers.
She was expected to speak outside the court after spending nearly five hours on the witness stand - but left without giving a statement or speaking to reporters.
The celebrity, 44, had $10 million worth of jewellery stolen by a gang of masked robbers while she was tied up and had a gun held to her back during Paris fashion week in 2016.
Nine years after the raid, Kim made an emotional appearance at the trial of 10 people who are accused of being involved in the traumatic burglary.
Supported in court by her mum, Kris Jenner, 69, she broke down as she described the moment she thought the men who had broken into her hotel room were about to rape and shoot her.
Speaking of her terror as she was thrown onto her hotel bed at gunpoint, naked under her hotel robe, she said: “The robe opens up and everything is exposed on my bottom half.
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“I was certain that was the moment he was going to rape me. He pulled me towards him and I said a prayer and tried to mentally prepare myself.”
She added: “I absolutely did think I was going to die.
“I was on the bed and then one of them had the gun up to me and at that point that’s when they were going to shoot me, that’s when I was certain that they would shoot me."
Kim’s friend and stylist Simone Harouche, 45, was in a downstairs bedroom during the ordeal and told the court she could hear Kim screaming in “terror”.
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She said: “I was afraid that she was raped or violated and I feared the worst.
“It was terror. What I heard specifically was ‘I have babies and I need to live’. That was what she kept saying. ‘Take everything, I need to live’.
It has taken almost 10 years for the 10 defendants to be brought to court, with Covid lockdowns and a backlog of terrorism cases in the French justice system blamed.
In an emotionally charged moment in the courtroom, Judge David Du Pas read out a letter from suspected ringleader Aomar Ait Khedache.
The letter read: “Madame, after seeing you in a French TV show and seeing your emotion and realising what psychological harm I did to you, that I decided to write to you.
“Not with the aim of getting forgiveness... I want to tell you human to human how I regret my actions and how I was touched to see you cry...
"I am sorry for the pain I caused you, your husband, you children and those who love you."
Kardashian broke down in tears while the letter was read out, and was handed a tissue by a member of her legal team, before telling career criminal Khedache that she forgives him.
She told the court: “I do appreciate the letter for sure. I do appreciate it. I forgive you for what had taken place.
"But it doesn’t change the emotion and the trauma and the way that my life had forever changed.
“But I do appreciate the letter, so thank you.”
In a handwritten note in response, Khedache - who is deaf and mute - wrote: "Your forgiveness is a sunshine that has enlightened me... I am forever grateful."
Another of the defendants, Yunice Abbas, also said he regretted his part in the terrifying raid.
Abbas has previously written a book about his involvement in the heist.
When asked if he wanted to say anything to Kardashian, Abbas stood up and said: "Hello. I recognise your trauma. I regret my part."
Kim also told the court how the terror raid left her fearful that she could not trust the cops, given her attackers had dressed up in police uniforms.
French media has dubbed the gang of criminals “Grandpa robbers” because many are in their 60s and 70s with ailing health.
One of the original suspects has died before the trial and another is too frail to stand as a defendant.
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The case continues until the end of May.
Kim was pictured arriving at the Palais de Justice in central Paris earlier this afternoon, supported by her mum Kris Jenner.
Kim has left court after testifying
Kim Kardashian has just walked out of the courtroom.
This marks the end of today's session.
She wept as she told a French courtroom that she thought she was about to die during a terrifying diamond heist before offering forgiveness to her robbers.
The celebrity spent almost five hours at the witness stand, where she said: “This is my closure, this is me putting this hopefully to rest."
Kim Kardashian has finally been able to sit down
Judge David De Pas has pointed out that the reality star has been standing up for almost five hours.
He tells lawyers that they should not be repeating points that she has already addressed.
Kim lost 'couple million' to insurance shortfall
Kim reveals to the court that she lost "a couple of million dollars" as a result of the raid, as her insurance did not pay out the full amount that her stolen jewellery was worth.
The reality star, 44, is continuing to be questioned by lawyers for each of the 10 defendants in the trial.
Asked if posting her extravagant lifestyle on social media had led to the raid, she said: “I never thought in my wildest dreams that me posting something would be an opportunity for someone to come and take something.”
Reflections on social media use
The prosecutor is question Kim over her use of social media around the time of the heist.
When asked what was the "object" of her online presence, Kim explains it has always been vital to her business and brand development.
She says: "Social media has been a great business tool for me and my family and all our contracts whether it's TV shows or products - it's always in the contract there have to be certain social media posts."
Robbery was 'violent and violating'
Kim says that, in the US, violence refers to specific acts - such as kicks and punches - but that of course the raid was a violent act and very violating.
The robbers subjected her to "saucissonnage" - meaning she was tied up like a salami.
She was also marched around with a gun pressed into her back.
Kim: 'I'm in court for closure'
Kim says that she wanted to be court today for closure, nine years after the traumatic raid.
She says: “I wanted to be a part of today just because I am a victim in this case and it is the first time I have been able to hear everything and follow along.
“This is what I do, I do want to become a lawyer. This is my closure, this is me putting this hopefully to rest, to be able to see everyone, to be able to thank the French judicial system for figuring out this investigation.”
She adds: “I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy. I do hope and pray that everyone involved gets the help they need and rehabilitates and doesn’t do this again.
“I genuinely would hope they feel regret and it’s genuine. I genuinely appreciate their apology and their regrets.”
Kim says: “I also think they don’t want to snitch on everyone else and get others in trouble.”
Kim says hotel receptionist 'not against me'
It was previously suspected that hotel receptionist Abderrahmane Ouatiki who was handcuffed and led the alleged robbers may have been involved in the heist after Kim called him "very calm".
Kim says she now believes Ouatiki is a victim: "Looking back at it I understand he was just trying to survive just like me and he was in it with me, not against me."
Kim recalls greeting night receptionist
Kim is now facing questions from the lawyer representing Abderrahmane Ouatiki - a night receptionist at the time.
She says she recalls seeing him and saying hi, but not much more.
Kim says she had to do therapy
Kim talks about her life after the robbery and says she has done "extensive therapy".
She recalls: "If someone was coming up the stairs and I called out to them and they didn't reply I'd start crying because it reminded me of that time."
Kim believes in second chances
Kim is asked about the work she has done with prisoners in the US.
The aspiring lawyer says: "I just finished law school. I spend a lot of time in prisons meeting with people who have committed crimes.
"So I am empathetic towards people who have committed crimes and their families.
"I really do believe in second chances and rehabilitation and I work in the justice system to help provide those rehabilitation experiences."
Before the break Kim told the court she forgives one of the robbers who was part of the gang who held her hostage.
Kim now removes all jewellery before going to bed
Another lawyer asks Kim how the heist has impacted her lifestyle now.
Kim reveals that she now sends off all her jewellery to a safety deposit box every night before going to bed, and doesn’t allow any jewels in the house.
She says: “I can’t sleep at home in jewellery is at home with my babies.”
Kim adds that her security now drive her cars and sleep outside the hotel door and she avoids posting in real-time on social media.
Court sketches of Kim
Credit: Reuters 
Credit: Reuters Kim says it's not fair for suspect to write a book about robbery
On hearing that suspect Yunice Abbas had written a book about the heist, Kim says: “I personally was really shocked when I saw that there was a book.”
She adds: "Not only did he do this, but now [he's] making money off that - my jewellery, my memories, the watch my dad who passed away gave me when I graduated high school. I can't get that back.
"It wasn't just jewellery... someone took away my memories, and now he is capitalising by writing a book? It didn't seem fair to me."
Kim frustrated by 'Grandpa robber' name
Kim's lawyer asks Kim how she felt about the French media describing the gang who attacked her as the "Grandpa Robbers".
Kim says that when the raid happened - almost a decade ago - the aggressors were much younger and stronger.
She says: "It was maybe a little frustrating hearing that that is what it was called today as that is not what it felt like."
Kim calls claims robbery was staged "really hurtful"
Kim speaks about the false claims that she staged the robbery for her reality show, Keeping Up With The Kardashians.
Her lawyer Léonor Hennerick asks the reality star: "How did that feel?"
Kim replies: "It was really hard for me when people were saying that I made it up maybe for my TV show.
"It was really hurtful and something that really stung deeply.
"Then I remember waking up one morning and the French press saying they had caught the people involved.
"I thought ok now people will believe me finally.
"And I remember us speaking to the French authorities, and I was so grateful."
Stolen jewellery was posted on social media
Resuming her testimony, Kim confirms that some of her stolen jewellery pieces had featured in pictures she had previously posted on social media.
Kim looks more relaxed as court resumes
Kim seems more relaxed as court resumes after a short break.
The reality star was visibly emotional at several points throughout the two hour session this afternoon.
But Kim now looks calm as she sits on the side of the courtroom, smiling at the journalists sitting next to her.
Court adjourns for short time
After hearing Kim's testimony for more than two hours the court has taken a short 15 minute break.
The other judges and defendant's lawyers will question Kim when the trial resumes.
Note penned to Kim: 'Your forgiveness is a sunshine'
Just before the court paused for a break, Aomar Air Khedache writes a note to Kim that is read out by the judge.
He tells her: "Your is a sunshine that has enlightened me [...] I am forever grateful."
Kim and former driver do not engage
The courts attention is now turned to Kim's former driver, Gary Madar, who is accused of being an accessory to the crime.
When asked if she wants to say anything to Madar, Kim says no.
He also declines the opportunity to address her.
The judge then calls a break.
Co-accused begs Kim to accept apology
The court proceedings now move onto suspect Yunice Abbas - who wrote a book about the heist.
Abbas is a stocky bald man wearing a black t-shirt. He is stands up, and Kim turns around to glance at him.
Abbas says: "Listening to the trauma you really regret your actions [...] I beg you to accept my apologies. They are sincere."
Another defendant, Didier Dubreucq, stands up and says it is "a shame what happened to you".
He adds: "I don't know what else to say but I feel for your pain".
Yunice AbbasCredit: Getty
Kim says: 'I forgive you'
Kim tells the court she forgives one of the robbers who was part of the gang who held her hostage.
When the court president aska Kim if she has anything to say to Khedache, the defendant who penned the letter, she says: "I am obviously emotional about it - this experience changed my life, my family's life.
"Back home in the states I work in the justice system and I want so badly to be a lawyer and I fight for people to seek justice.
"I do appreciate the letter for sure. I do appreciate it, I forgive you," she says, gesturing towards him.
She is passed tissues and wipes away tears and says: “I am obviously emotional about it. This experience changed my life it changed my family’s life.
Court hears letter from defendant
The judge says Aomar Ait Khedache, one of the two defendants who has admitted guilt, wrote her a letter when he was arrested in 2017.
Kim says she didn't know about this, so the judge reads it.
It goes: "Madame, after seeing you in a French TV show and seeing your emotion and realising what psychological harm I did to you, that I decided to write to you.
"Not with the aim of getting forgiveness [...] I want to tell you human to human how I regret my actions and how I was touched to see you cry [...] I am sorry for the pain I caused you, your husband, you children and those who love you."
Kim does not look at Khedache as his words ring out, but begins to cry.
Kim gaining confidence
Kim has been giving evidence for about two hours now, and has gained confidence throughout the process, reporters in the courtroom have observed
Initially, her voice was quiet and shaky - and she sobbed through the most harrowing parts of the testimony.
But in the latter stages, she has assumed a quiet confidence and now stares calmly at the interpreter.
Her hands at first remained interlaced in front of her on the stand, but she has begun gesticulating to make her points.
Kim has pointedly refused to look at the defendants.
Sets straight Snapchat video
Kim explains to the court that a Snapchat video she had posted must have been from the night before the raid, because she was getting a spray tan.
At the time in 2016, it had been thought that she had been sharing clips of herself inside the hotel just hours before the gang launched the robbery.
She explains to the judge that the video of her in the apartment on her own could not have been from the day of the heist.
She says: “I went back and I watched the Snapchat and the Snapchat was not the night of this.
“The Snapchat was the night before and I was staying in to get a spray tan because the next morning I was going to the Balenciaga fashion show and I was wearing no make up, so I wanted a spray tan instead.”