Kardashian, now 44 – who left Paris traumatised hours after the robbery on the night of October 2-3, 2016 – is due to testify at the trial on May 13 in a court appearance that will be a major event in itself.
Those on trial are mainly men in their 60s and 70s with previous criminal records and underworld nicknames like “Old Omar” and “Blue Eyes” that recall the old-school French bandits of 1960s and 1970s film noirs.
Kardashian, then 35, was threatened with a gun to the head and tied up with her mouth taped up. The theft was the biggest against a private individual in France in the past 20 years.
The trial will also go into how the perpetrators received the information as to where Kardashian was staying during Paris Fashion Week, and picked the very moment when her bodyguard was absent, accompanying her sister Kourtney to a night club.
It is thought Kardashian’s frequent posts about her wealth, personal life and whereabouts may have facilitated the perpetrators’ actions.
The star was staying at an exclusive hotel in central Paris favoured by celebrities when two armed and masked men stormed into her room at around 3.00am after arriving at the establishment by bicycle.
They shouted that they wanted the diamond engagement ring from her now ex-husband, US rapper Kayne West.
Kardashian had been showing it off on her social media channels – it alone was valued at US$4 million.
They made off with the ring, among US$10 million worth of jewels.
The only item recovered was a diamond necklace dropped in the street while the thieves escaped.
The suspects were arrested three months after the robbery, through DNA evidence.
Twelve suspects were charged, with 10 going on trial from Monday. One died in March this year and another is to be tried separately for health reasons. The trial is due to last until May 23. (AFP)
