Kim Kardashian is giving evidence to a court in Paris, in the trial of 10 people accused of robbing her at gunpoint in a hotel suite in 2016
Her voice quivered as she told the court she thought two robbers who came into her room were police officers
She said a gun was held to her back - she thought about running, but realised it "wasn't an option"
"I absolutely did think I was gonna die," she told the court
After the robbers left, her ankles were tied and she hopped to get help before hiding in bushes on a balcony and calling her mother
All but two of the accused have pleaded not guilty - an emotional Kardashain tells one of those who has admitted his guilt: "I forgive you"
Jewels worth millions of dollars were taken, including a $4m (£2.9m) diamond engagement ring from then-husband Kanye West
The trial began in late April - we're reporting live from the courtroom
Kim Kardashian arrives at Paris court
Laura Gozzi
Reporting from Palais de Justice court in Paris
Kardashian seems more relaxed now - perhaps feeling the questions are coming to an end soon?
When asked by a lawyer about her security at present, she gives a smile, and acknowledges that it has got "a little more pricey."
Laura Gozzi
Reporting from Palais de Justice court in Paris
The prosecutor general says that what she's endured - being dragged and tied up are violent acts, yet she says she didn't endure any violence.
Kardashian says that in the US, violent acts are intended as something different, such as kicks and punches - but that of course the whole thing was a violent act and very violating.
As a reminder, she was a victim of "saucissonnage" - meaning she was tied up by her alleged attackers like a salami. Her legs and arms were bound by zip ties.
She was also marched through the room with a gun to her back.
Laura Gozzi
Reporting from Palais de Justice court in Paris
Kardashian is asked if she finds it contradictory that some suspects express regret without revealing who's involved in the gang.
She replies: "Two things can be true; regret can be genuine and I genuinely accept their apology, but I also think they [probably] don't want to snitch on anyone else and get them in more trouble."
She is then asked about the way she has always used social media, posting things all the time.
"Social media has been a great business tool for me and my family and all our contracts whether it's TV shows or products - it's always in the contract there have to be certain social media posts.
"The bigger social media following you have, the more products you can sell.
"To have these mini reality shows of always posting your every move on social media is the culture a lot in the US," she says.
Laura Gozzi
Reporting from Palais de Justice court in Paris
Another lawyer takes over the questions and asks Kardashian what she wants from the trial.
"I wanted to be a part of today because I am a victim in this case and it's the first time I'm able to really hear from everyone and follow along," she says.
"This is what I do. I want to become a lawyer and I do believe everyone has the opportunity to speak their truth, and this is my closure and my opportunity to put this to rest after everything I've been through."
Kardashian adds that her job is "to tell my truth and hope this doesn't happen to anyone else".
"It was terrifying and life changing and I don't wish that kind of terror on anyone - to think you could be killed or raped - I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy."
Laura Gozzi
Reporting from Palais de Justice court in Paris
Ouatiki himself is on the bench in front of me, positioned behind Kris Jenner, who still wears her sunglasses inside.
"The man we've been representing for almost nine years... aside from the fact he now has PTSD, he has also been considerably affected by public suspicion which you were also a victim of at the start", the lawyer says,.
He reminds Kardashian she once said she found Ouatiki "very calm". This left things "open to interpretation" about his involvement, he says.
Kardashian says she has gone through "extensive therapy recently" to understand this more.
"I realised that a lot of people's trauma response is to be calm and that will save you and protect you and so I have a better understanding now... of other people's responses."
She says that now she believes Ouatiki is a victim: "Looking back at it I understand he was just trying to survive just like me and he was in it with me, not against me."
Laura Gozzi
Reporting from Palais de Justice court in Paris
Kardashian is speaking more slowly now and seems tired. She has been standing for hours in high heels.
Kardashian now faces questions from the lawyer representing Abderrahmane Ouatiki, a night receptionist at the time. Kardashian says she recalls seeing him and saying hi - but not much more.
Laura Gozzi
Reporting from Palais de Justice court in Paris
Kardashian says she has also done therapy.
"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," she says.
"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."
The lawyer then asks her about the work she has done with prisoners in the US.
"I just finished law school. I spend a lot of time in prisons meeting with people who have committed crimes," she replies.
"So I am empathetic towards people who have committed crimes and their families. I really do believe in second chances and rehabilitation and I work in the justice system to help provide those rehabilitation experiences."
Laura Gozzi
Reporting from Palais de Justice court in Paris
Another lawyer for Kim Kardashian's takes over the questions now.
He asks how have the events impacted her lifestyle and security. It's "completely different now", she explains.
Security will drive her cars and sleep outside the hotel door, she says. On social media, she won't post in real-time unless it is on a public schedule that she will be there.
She also says she takes off her jewellery before she gets home and sends it in a car to a safe deposit. "I cant sleep back home if jewellery is back home with my babies," she says.
Laura Gozzi
Reporting from Palais de Justice court in Paris
Responding to her lawyer who asked her about the book, "I Held Up Kim Kardashian", written by co-defendant Yunice Abbas, Kardashian tells the court: "I 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," Kardashian says.
Laura Gozzi
Reporting from Palais de Justice court in Paris
Kardashian's lawyer Hennerick says she's spoken a lot about the way the aggressors physically interacted with her.
"The way they snatched the phone from you, how they pushed you onto the bed," and dragged her by her ankles across the bed, causing Kardashian's robe to fall open and expose her, she says.
"Was that the first time in your life that you thought you may be raped or killed?" Hennerick asks.
"Yes, that was the only time I ever felt that way," Kardashian responds.
In a follow up question, Hennerick asks how she felt about the French media describing the aggressors as "grandpa robbers".
Kardashian says that when the incident happened almost a decade ago they were a lot younger and stronger. "It was maybe a little frustrating hearing that that is what it was called today as that is not what it felt like," she continues.
Cameras are not allowed in the courtroom, which is why we aren't seeing images of Kim Kardashian as she gives testimony.
But sketch artists are. We're now seeing sketches of Kardashian as she speaks, as well as an earlier illustration of her stylist Simone Harouche.
Image source, ZZIIGG
Image source, AFPNext, Kim Kardashian's lawyer Léonor Hennerick is up first with questions.
She speaks very slowly to let the interpreter translate. The question is about when some media speculated that the heist was a hoax for insurance purposes.
"How did that feel?" Hennerick asks.
"It was really hard for me when people were saying that I made it up maybe for my TV show," Kardashian replies.
"It was really hurtful and something that really stung deeply. Then I remember waking up one morning and the French press saying they had caught the people involved.
"I thought ok now people will believe me finally. And I remember us speaking to the French authorities, and I was so grateful."
Laura Gozzi
Reporting from Palais de Justice court in Paris
We are back in court, as is Kim Kardashian.
She seems more relaxed this time round, after an intense two hour session earlier, where she was visibly emotional several times.
As she sat on a bench on the side of the courtroom before taking the stand again, she looked calmer and smiled at the journalists sitting next to her.
Laura Gozzi
Reporting from Palais de Justice court in Paris
Image source, ReutersKim Kardashian walked into the courtroom wearing a striking low cut suit jacket with padded shoulders and a tight ankle-length skirt - her PR representative tells me she's wearing John Galliano.
But it's really her sparkling jewellery that everybody noticed first.
She is wearing a shiny, imposing necklace and a large diamond ring which looks very similar to the $4m (£3m) piece gifted to her by then-husband Kanye West in 2016 and which the defendants in court today are accused of stealing and selling on.
Every detail of Kardashian's appearance is carefully curated - so it's interesting she chose to go with such a similar piece of jewellery to the one at the centre of this whole case.
Image source, AFP
Image source, BloombergKardashian attending a second chance hiring and criminal justice reform event at the White House in 2019
A little earlier today during her testimony, Kardashian mentioned her work in the justice system. Let's take a closer look at what she is referring to.
For a number of years, beginning after the Paris robbery, Kim Kardashian has been training to be a lawyer and advocating to reform the justice system.
In 2018, Donald Trump commuted the sentences of three women, one of which Kardashian had lobbied for the release of.
The star later met with the women and Trump at the White House. She announced the same year that she was training to be a lawyer.
She often shares snaps of her studying, and has spoken about the journey several times in the reality show Keeping Up With the Kardashians.
She passed the "baby bar" exam in 2021, which is taken in the first year of law study and has a difficult pass rate.
"For anyone who doesn't know my law school journey, know this wasn't easy or handed to me," she wrote on Instagram.
Since then, she has continued lobbying. Recently, she met with Erik and Lyle Menendez, two brothers in prison for murdering their parents in a high-profile case.
Laura Gozzi
Reporting from Palais de Justice court in Paris
Shortly before the court paused for a brief break, Aomar Air Khedache wrote a note to Kardashian that was read out by the judge.
He tells her: "Your forgiveness is a sunshine that has enlightened me... I am forever grateful."
Laura Gozzi
Reporting from Palais de Justice court in Paris
Her attention is now directed to Gary Madar, who is accused of being an accessory to the crime.
He is her former driver.
Kardashian, when asked if she wants to say anything to him, says no. He also says no when given the chance to address her.
The judge is calling a break. I'm not sure where Kim Kardashian goes during this - presumably not the vending machine we all flock to.
But as they leave the courtroom, she is escorted out by her security guards, causing a crowd in the doorway.
Laura Gozzi
Reporting from Palais de Justice court in Paris
The judge now moves on to talking about suspect Yunice Abbas, who wrote a book about the heist.
The judge asks him whether he wishes to say anything to Kardashian.
Abbas is a stocky bald man wearing a black t-shirt. He is standing up. Kardashian turns around briefly to look at him.
"Listening to the trauma you really regret your actions... I beg you to accept my apologies," he says, adding: "They are sincere."
The interpreter has whispered all of this in her ear but she doesn't really turn to look at him while he speaks.
Another defendant, Didier Dubreucq, stands up and says it is "a shame what happened to you".
"I don't know what else to say but I feel for your pain".
He is sitting behind Kardashian, so again, she just glances at him briefly before he speaks.
Laura Gozzi
Reporting from Palais de Justice court in Paris
Aomar Ait Khedache and Kim Kardashian are sitting really close to one another.
He is sitting down and she is at the stand and wiping her nose.
The court president asks Kim if she has anything to say to him.
"I am obviously emotional about it - this experience changed my life, my family's life," she answers.
"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," she says.
Kardashian goes on: "I do appreciate the letter for sure. I do appreciate it, I forgive you." She gestures towards him and looks at him.
"But it doesn't change the emotion, the feelings and the trauma and the way my life has changed."
Laura Gozzi
Reporting from Palais de Justice court in Paris
The judge says Aomar Ait Khedache, one of the two defendants who has admitted guilt, wrote her a letter when he was arrested in 2017.
She says she didn't know about this, so the judge reads it.
"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."
She doesn't look at the defendant, and cries.
The letter continues: "Of course you can't undo the past but I hope this letter will help you forget the trauma you endured because of me."