Summary

Media caption,

Kim Kardashian leaves court in Paris after testimony

  1. A gruelling day for Kim Kardashian, as she relives Paris robberypublished at 18:19 British Summer Time 13 May

    Kardashian and her mother Kris Jenner leave the court buildingImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Kardashian and her mother Kris Jenner leave the court building

    Now Kim Kardashian has left the court building in Paris, we are closing our live coverage.

    It was a gruelling day for the reality TV star and businesswoman - you can recap today's evidence by scrolling back through this page. Warning: there are distressing details throughout.

    Our reporter Laura Gozzi, who was in court all day, has summed up today's evidence here.

    Thank you for joining us.

  2. Kardashian leaves buildingpublished at 17:43 British Summer Time 13 May
    Breaking

    Kardashian leaving building

    We've just seen Kim Kardashian leave the court building - it doesn't look like she spoke to reporters.

  3. Kardashian leaves court - today's session is overpublished at 17:31 British Summer Time 13 May
    Breaking

    Laura Gozzi
    Reporting from Palais de Justice court in Paris

    After several hours at the stand, Kim Kardashian has just walked out of the courtroom. Today's session is over.

    It has been a gruelling afternoon for Kim, who was forced to relieve the traumatic events of October 2016 in sometimes uncomfortable detail.

    She remained composed at the stand, although she sometimes struggled to fight back tears as she recalled fearing for her life.

    She indicated that today was about "closure" for her, and by the end of her testimony she was certainly looking more relaxed than she had at the start.

    She also talked about her desire to become a lawyer - she has been studying law for some years and referenced her work with rehabilitating prisoners on more than one occasion, saying that she believes in second chances.

    The fact that everything Kim said and what was said to her had to go through an interpreter meant the moment she told one of the accused - who has admitted to his guilt - that she forgave him almost flew under the radar.

    But it still felt like a meaningful moment in what was, at times, an emotionally charged day.

  4. Kardashian finally gets to sit downpublished at 17:22 British Summer Time 13 May

    Laura Gozzi
    Reporting from Palais de Justice court in Paris

    Kim Kardashian has finally got to sit down.

    Judge David De Pas says he'd like to highlight that she has been up for almost five hours.

    He reminds the lawyers they should not keep bringing up things she has already addressed.

  5. Kardashian still giving evidence in court - but pace has slowedpublished at 16:52 British Summer Time 13 May

    Things have slowed down a bit in court.

    Kardashian is still speaking, but questions are becoming quite repetitive as they go over details.

    Our reporter in court, Laura Gozzi, tells us Kris Jenner is tapping away on her phone as she sits nearby on a court bench.

  6. Kardashian's demeanour relaxed as she says security costs are 'pricey'published at 16:38 British Summer Time 13 May

    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."

  7. Robbery described by Kardashian as 'violating' and 'violent' actpublished at 16:28 British Summer Time 13 May

    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.

  8. Kardashian says accepts apology, though accused haven't named other gang memberspublished at 16:22 British Summer Time 13 May

    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.

  9. 'This is my closure'published at 16:17 British Summer Time 13 May

    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."

  10. Receptionist Ouatiki 'just trying to survive like me', Kardashian sayspublished at 16:09 British Summer Time 13 May

    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."

  11. Kardashian recalls greeting night receptionistpublished at 16:06 British Summer Time 13 May

    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.

  12. 'I have had to change my life'published at 15:59 British Summer Time 13 May

    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."

  13. Star now removes jewellery and sends it to separate location before going homepublished at 15:52 British Summer Time 13 May

    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.

  14. 'It's not fair' for suspect to write a book about robbery, Kardashian sayspublished at 15:48 British Summer Time 13 May

    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.

  15. 'Grandpa robber' moniker was frustrating to hear - Kardashianpublished at 15:46 British Summer Time 13 May

    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.

  16. Court sketch shows Kardashian testifyingpublished at 15:39 British Summer Time 13 May

    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.

    A sketch of Kardashian speaking into a microphone as a man holds another microphone next to herImage source, ZZIIGG
    Sketch of blonde lady with black coat on and men sat around herImage source, AFP
  17. Media hoax speculation 'stung deeply' - Kardashianpublished at 15:35 British Summer Time 13 May

    Next, 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."

  18. Kardashian appears more relaxed as court resumespublished at 15:29 British Summer Time 13 May

    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.

  19. Eyes on Kim Kardashian's carefully curated appearancepublished at 15:21 British Summer Time 13 May

    Laura Gozzi
    Reporting from Palais de Justice court in Paris

    Kim Kardashian's face zoomed in with a large diamond necklaceImage source, Reuters

    Kim 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.

    A hand with a large diamond square ring and long pink nailsImage source, AFP
  20. What to know about Kim Kardashian's work in the justice systempublished at 14:56 British Summer Time 13 May

    Kardashian speaking into a mic at a lectern with Trump standing behind herImage source, Bloomberg
    Image caption,

    Kardashian 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.