The trial of those involved in Kim Kardashian’s jewellery heist has come to a close, with eight people found guilty of robbing the reality star at a Paris hotel in 2016.
The verdict was reached after a month-long trial, which took place almost ten years after Kardashian was held at gunpoint and robbed of jewellery worth up to an estimated $13 million AUD.
Eight of the ten people accused of robbing Kardashian were convicted on a variety of charges including armed robbery and kidnapping in an organised gang. Two of the defendants were acquitted.
While none of those convicted will serve prison time, some were still sentenced to jail.
Aomar Aït Khedache, who was thought to have masterminded the robbery, was dealt the longest sentence of eight years’ jail with five years suspended.
Three others who were accused on the most serious charges got seven years, five of them suspended.
The trial was heard by six jurors and a three-judge panel, with the chief judge, David De Pas, saying the ages of the defendants played a role in the court’s decision not to impose harsher sentences.
As details of the robbery emerged ahead of the trial, the defendants became known as the “grandpa robbers”, since Khedache and many of his accomplices are aged in their 60s and 70s.
De Pas also said the nine-year gap between the robbery and the trial was taken into account when sentencing.
Kardashian, who appeared in the Paris court earlier this month to testify in the case, has since reacted to news of the convictions.
“The crime was the most terrifying experience of my life, leaving a lasting impact on me and my family,” the reality star said in a press statement (per ABC).
“While I’ll never forget what happened, I believe in the power of growth and accountability and pray for healing for all.”
Kardashian — who has made moves in the legal and criminal justice space in recent years — said she was “deeply grateful to the French authorities” for pursuing justice.
“I remain committed to advocating for justice and promoting a fair legal system,” she added.
Just this week, Kardashian celebrated on social media after graduating from a four-year law program, and she is now planning to take the California bar exam.
Lead image: Edward Berthelot/GC Images and Pierre Suu/Getty Images
