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Nearly eight years after Kim Kardashian was robbed at gunpoint in a Paris hotel, the trial of ten people accused of orchestrating the multi-million dollar heist is now underway. The courtroom has become a theater of confessions, regret, and complex personal histories as the defendants begin to take the stand in what has become one of the most high-profile celebrity trials in recent French history.
Among those on trial is 71-year-old Yunice Abbas, a man who has already admitted to playing a role in the crime and even wrote a memoir about it titled I Held Up Kim Kardashian. On the stand, Abbas appeared somber, revisiting a lifetime of criminal activity that ranged from petty theft to bank robbery. His account of a troubled childhood in Algeria and a lifetime spent in and out of prison painted a portrait of a man shaped by hardship.
What struck many in the courtroom was his admission of regret. Abbas said that until the Kardashian robbery, he had rarely felt remorse for his actions. But seeing the media coverage and realizing the trauma Kardashian endured made him reconsider. "We just grabbed the lady's handbag," he said. "But I have discovered there's trauma behind it."
The court also examined the case of Gary Madar, a 35-year-old father of two accused of passing inside information to the thieves. Madar worked as a VIP transport agent who frequently interacted with the Kardashians during their Paris visits. He also held a side job at a café owned by another defendant, where prosecutors believe the information leak may have occurred. Madar has denied any wrongdoing, and his lawyer insists there is no concrete evidence linking him to the planning of the crime.
Attention also turned to 78-year-old Marc Boyer, accused of supplying the firearm used during the robbery. He expressed sorrow over his son, Marc-Alexandre Boyer, also a defendant, being drawn into a criminal world he described as riddled with "thieves" and "crooks."
Kim Kardashian, who lost approximately $10 million in jewelry—including a $4 million engagement ring from then-husband Kanye West—is expected to testify on May 13. Her appearance will mark the emotional peak of the trial, with more than 400 journalists expected to attend, placing extraordinary pressure on court logistics.
As the proceedings continue, the trial is proving to be more than just a search for justice. It is also a deeper exploration into the lives, motivations, and regrets of individuals who committed one of the most brazen celebrity crimes of the decade.
