Nearly eight years after the harrowing ordeal, Kardashian returns to Paris determined to confront the suspects in court and seek justice for the terrifying $9 million heist.
Kim Kardashian is back in Paris — not for fashion week, but to take the stand in one of the most notorious celebrity crimes of the decade.
The Kardashians star, 44, is preparing to testify in the trial of 10 suspects involved in the 2016 armed robbery that left her traumatized and stripped of nearly $9 million worth of jewelry. A source close to Kardashian tells PEOPLE exclusively that while she is “a bit nervous,” she has always wanted to face her assailants in person.
“This is her choice. She was terrified for her life during the robbery. She wants the people involved convicted,” the source said.
Kardashian appeared to confirm her journey on Monday, May 12, sharing a view from her private plane to Instagram Stories, accompanied by a French flag emoji, signaling her arrival in Paris.
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The robbery occurred on October 3, 2016, when five armed men disguised as police officers broke into her luxury residence at the No Address hotel. They bound, gagged, and held Kardashian at gunpoint, before locking her in a bathtub. She later revealed the robbers stole diamond-encrusted bracelets, a gold Rolex, earrings, a Jacob & Co. necklace, and a $4 million engagement ring from then-husband Kanye West.
“I was kind of looking at the gun, looking down back at the stairs,” Kardashian recalled during a 2017 episode of Keeping Up With the Kardashians. “I have a split second in my mind to make this quick decision: Am I going to run and get shot in the back? Or stay and hope they don’t?”
The trauma left a lasting impact on the entrepreneur and reality star, who believes the attackers tracked her via social media. “I was Snapchatting that I was home and that everyone was going out,” she said. “I think they knew Pascal [her bodyguard] was out with Kourtney and that I was there by myself.”
Only a fraction of the stolen items have been recovered. Ten individuals are now facing trial in France, with proceedings having begun on April 28. Kardashian’s testimony is expected to play a critical role in the case.
The robbery shocked fans and reshaped how Kardashian approached fame, privacy, and security. As she heads into court, her appearance underscores a commitment to holding her attackers accountable — and confronting a night that changed her life forever.