Kim Kardashian has “forgiven” the ringleader of her Paris robbery, who violently robbed her in 2016, during an emotional and revealing testimony in a Paris court on Tuesday, May 13.
The reality star, 44, was left traumatised after she was tied up and gagged by a gang of burglars, as they stole millions of dollars worth of jewellery from the central Paris apartment where she was staying during Paris Fashion Week in 2016.
As she faced defendant Aomar Ait Khedache in court on Tuesday, she insisted that she “appreciated” him writing her a letter of apology shortly after his arrest – although she was not aware of it at the time – but claimed that the whole “traumatic” ordeal has changed her life regardless.
She told the court: “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.
“But it doesn’t change the emotion, the feelings and the trauma and the way my life has changed.”
Shortly after she offered her forgiveness, she was passed a note by the defendant around the time a short break was called in the trial.
It read: “Your forgiveness is a sunshine that has enlightened me… I am forever grateful.”
Kedhache, who is deaf and mute, is alleged to be one of the two men who pointed a gun at Kardahian’s face during the heist.
In the letter – which was read out to the court by Judge David De Pas – Khedache claimed he was not after “forgiveness” from Kardashian, but wanted her to know how much he “regrets” what he did.
He said: “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.
“Of course, you can’t undo the past but I hope this letter will help you forget the trauma you endured because of me.”
In another admission, Kardashian claimed she “absolutely did think [she] was gonna die” and claimed she was picked up by one of the intruders, and dumped her onto her bathroom floor where her mouth was taped up..
She said: “Then I waited a few minutes – I wasn’t sure if they were gonna get something and come back – but after a few mins I didn’t hear anything.
“I was able to get the … tape off and then I popped down to find Simone [her stylist]”.
‘The Kardashians’ star was in the presence of her older sister Kourtney during the heist, and “prayed” for her family as she worried her sister was about to see her shot de@d.
She said: “At that point I was sure that’s when they were going to shoot me.
“So I said a prayer for my family and my mom and my sister, and best friend. I hoped they would have an OK life after.
“I would be shot dead on the bed and [Kourtney] would see that and have that memory forever.”
Meanwhile, co-defendant Yunice Abbas wrote the book ‘I Held Up Kim Kardashian’, and she told the court that it “wasn’t fair” for him to do that.
She said: ” honestly was really shocked when I saw there was a book.”
“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.”
In the time since the robbery took place, the SKIMS founder has turned to therapy to cope.
She said: “I have had to change my life…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.
“Other than that I try to be just strong and protective and I have a lot of security around my house – even if it’s excessive or ridiculous to other people, that’s what I need to feel safe and sleep and I’m OK with that.”
Madukwe B. Nwabuisi is an accomplished journalist renown for his fearless reporting style and extensive expertise in the field. He is an investigative journalist, who has established himself as a kamikaze reporter.
