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Daily Mail
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Kim Kardashian 'grandpa robber', 69, dies a month after his conviction
's 'grandpa robber' has died a month after he was convicted of stealing jewellery worth $10million from the reality television star. Didier Dubreucq, 69, was diagnosed with lung cancer during pre-trial detention and had been undergoing chemotherapy. He was among ten suspects to be tried earlier this year for stealing jewels from the star, including a huge diamond ring from her now ex-husband, rapper Kanye West. Dubreucq, who police nicknamed 'Blue Eyes' due to his piercing gaze, was accused of being the second person who stormed into Kim's hotel room on October 2, 2016, but he denied the charges. A Paris court last month sentenced him to seven years in jail, including five suspended, for the robbery. He was absent for the ruling as he was undergoing chemotherapy, and did not return to jail as he had already served his two years in pre-trial detention. In April, he had however turned up in court after a chemotherapy session to say he had 'nothing to do' with the theft. He said he did not like to be labelled an 'armed robber' despite having served a 23-year sentence for past armed robberies. He rejection suggestions that he is a 'thug' and said: 'I'm a good guy.' Since becoming a father at the age of 50, Dubreucq added that he had put an end to his 'big mistakes' of the past. None of the eight people convicted last month returned to jail, including 69-year-old ringleader Aomar Ait Khedache, because of the time they had spent behind bars while awaiting trial. A few hours after the verdict, Dubreucq addressed the court in a letter read by his lawyer. He wrote: 'I never participated in this jewelry theft. You don't condemn a man on the altar of suspicion and doubt.' Dubreucq even addressed a few words Kim, who was held captive and gagged during the robbery, as well as to Abderrahmane Ouatiki, a receptionist at the hotel where the star was staying at the time of the events. He said: 'The ordeal they endured deeply disturbed them, and I felt the trauma they are experiencing today in their voices. It did not leave me indifferent. I dare to hope that in time they will find the path to healing.' The audacious early hours raid in October 2016 took place at the height of Paris Fashion Week, and at the height of the socialite's fame. Kim was alone in the penthouse apartment of her hotel, dozing on the bed in a silk nightgown, when two men disguised as policemen burst into the room and held a gun to her head. The celebrity was bound and gagged, 'like a sausage' and dumped in the bath of her ensuite bathroom while robbers spent 49 minutes snatching millions of pounds worth of gems and watches including her 18.88 carat diamond engagement ring. As they fled, one robber dropped a platinum cross adorned with diamonds that was recovered the following morning. A visibly traumatised Kim fled the country by private jet after giving a brief statement to French detectives and was consoled by then husband Kanye who halted a concert, telling fans he had a 'family emergency'. In the intervening years, the mother told how she feared for her life and cried: 'Don't kill me, I have babies!' Kim has been denied justice for years, with delays on bringing the case to court blamed on the priority of high-profile terrorist trials. There were also fears that the publicity of this trial would destroy Paris' reputation as a high-class tourist destination ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games. But last month the reality TV star re-lived her terrifying ordeal that occurred almost nine years ago when she gave evidence in the trial. A career criminal known as 'Old Omar' was accused of masterminding the heist that was France's highest value robbery in a decade. Omar's 79-year-old mistress Christiane 'Cathy' Glotin was also said to be involved. Old Omar denied being the mastermind of the heist. He instead said another man, who he refused to name, presented the opportunity to him. He claimed this man presented detailed plans, including layouts of the hotel building and pictures of Kim wearing the prized jewellery.
The Independent
a day ago
- The Independent
‘Grandpa robber' at centre of Kim Kardashian robbery dies month after trial
A 'grandpa robber' found guilty of stealing millions of pounds worth of jewellery from Kim Kardashian has died a month after being convicted, according to French media. Didier Dubreucq, 69, was diagnosed with lung cancer while in detention prior to going on trial and had been undergoing chemotherapy. He and seven others were found guilty of the high-profile Paris heist which happened in 2016, with the court hearing Ms Kardashian was bound and had a gun held to her head. The thieves stole about £7.5m of her jewellery including an engagement ring worth £3m that was gifted by her then-husband Kanye West. Also known as "Blue Eyes', Dubreucq was one of two men who held Kardashian at gunpoint in her room. He denied the charges during the second day in court. With tears in his eyes, Dubreucq spoke of his past as a criminal, telling the court according to Le Monde: "I told my son, 'I hope you don't become like your father.' And I'm keeping a close watch." It was on 3 October 2016 when Kardashian was lying in the bed of the luxury apartment in central Paris, that she heard footsteps pounding up the stairs. After calling out, and hearing no response, she knew something 'wasn't quite right', she recalled in an episode of Keeping Up With the Kardashians months after the crime. Two men in police uniforms had handcuffed the concierge and forced him to let them into her apartment. 'What I've heard from talking to him afterward is they said, you know, 'Where's the rapper's wife? Let us up to her room!' 'He ended up being our interpreter because I couldn't understand them, they couldn't understand me,' Ms Kardashian recalled. When she was dragged to the hallway at the top of the stairs, Kardashian said she saw that the pair were armed – and began to fear the worst. 'He pulled me toward him at the front of the bed and I thought, 'OK, this is the moment they're going to rape me,'' she said. 'I fully mentally prepped myself – and then he didn't.' The robber put duct tape round her legs and a gun to her head. She said: 'I just knew that was the moment. They're just totally going to shoot me in the head. I just prayed that Kourtney's going to have a normal life after she sees my dead body on the bed.' Kardashian told investigators she was taken to a bathroom and placed in the bathtub. Her attackers fled on bicycles or on foot, and she freed herself by removing the tape.
ABC News
a day ago
- ABC News
French 'grandpa robber' behind Kim Kardashian jewellery heist dies
One of the French "grandpa robbers" who stole jewellery worth millions from reality star Kim Kardashian has died a month after being convicted. Didier Dubreucq, 69, died on Thursday, local time, after being diagnosed with lung cancer during pre-trial detention and had been undergoing chemotherapy. He was one of 10 suspects to be tried earlier this year for stealing jewels from the American influencer in 2016, including a huge diamond ring from her now ex-husband, rapper Kanye West. Dubreucq, who police nicknamed "Blue Eyes" due to his piercing gaze, was accused of being the second person who stormed into Kardashian's hotel room on the night of October 2 to 3, 2016, but he denied the charges. A Paris court last month sentenced him to seven years in jail, including five suspended, over the robbery. He was absent for the ruling as he was undergoing chemotherapy, and did not return to jail as he had already served his two years in pre-trial detention. In April, he had however turned up in court after a chemotherapy session to say he had "nothing to do" with the theft. He said he did not like to be labelled an "armed robber" despite having served a 23-year sentence for past armed robberies. "I'm a good guy," he said, rejecting suggestions that he was a "thug". Since becoming a father at the age of 50, Dubreucq said he had put an end to the "big mistakes" of the past. None of the eight people convicted last month returned to jail, including 69-year-old ringleader Aomar Ait Khedache, because of the time they had spent behind bars awaiting trial. AFP
CTV News
2 days ago
- CTV News
Frenchman who robbed Kim Kardashian dies of cancer aged 69
Kim Kardashian leaves the justice palace after testifying, regarding a robbery of millions of dollars in jewels from her Paris hotel room in 2016, in Paris, Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard) Paris, France -- A French robber convicted with seven others of stealing jewelry worth US$10 million from reality television star Kim Kardashian in Paris in 2016 died on Thursday, a source close to the case said. Didier Dubreucq, 69, was diagnosed with lung cancer during pre-trial detention and had been undergoing chemotherapy. He was among 10 suspects to be tried earlier this year for stealing jewels from the American influencer, including a huge diamond ring from her now ex-husband, rapper Kayne West. Dubreucq, who police nicknamed 'Blue Eyes' due to his piercing gaze, was accused of being the second person who stormed into Kardashian's hotel room on the night of October 2-3, 2016, but he denied the charges. A Paris court last month sentenced him to seven years in jail, including five suspended, over the robbery. He was absent for the ruling as he was undergoing chemotherapy, and did not return to jail as he had already served his two years in pre-trial detention. In April, he had however turned up in court after a chemotherapy session to say he had 'nothing to do' with the theft. He said he did not like to be labelled an 'armed robber' despite having served a 23-year sentence for past armed robberies. 'I'm a good guy,' he said, rejecting suggestions that he was a 'thug.' Since becoming a father at the age of 50, Dubreucq said, he had put an end to the 'big mistakes' of the past. None of the eight people convicted last month returned to jail, including 69-year-old ringleader Aomar Ait Khedache, because of the time they had spent behind bars awaiting trial.
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Straits Times
Frenchman who robbed Kim Kardashian dies of cancer aged 69
Didier Dubreucq was sentenced to seven years in jail, including five suspended, over the robbery in Paris of reality TV star Kim Kardashian. PHOTOS: AFP PARIS - A French robber convicted with seven others of stealing jewellery worth US$10 million (S$13 million) from reality television star Kim Kardashian in Paris in 2016 died on June 26, a source close to the case said. Didier Dubreucq, 69, was diagnosed with lung cancer during pre-trial detention and had been undergoing chemotherapy. He was among 10 suspects to be tried earlier this year for stealing jewels from the American influencer, including a huge diamond ring from her now ex-husband, rapper Kayne West. Dubreucq, who police nicknamed 'Blue Eyes' due to his piercing gaze, was accused of being the second person who stormed into Kardashian's hotel room on the night of Oct 2-3, 2016, but he denied the charges. A Paris court in May sentenced him to seven years in jail, including five suspended, over the robbery. He was absent for the ruling as he was undergoing chemotherapy, and did not return to jail as he had already served his two years in pre-trial detention. In April, he had however turned up in court after a chemotherapy session to say he had 'nothing to do' with the theft. He said he did not like to be labelled an 'armed robber' despite having served a 23-year sentence for past armed robberies. 'I'm a good guy,' he said, rejecting suggestions that he was a 'thug'. Since becoming a father at the age of 50, Dubreucq said, he had put an end to the 'big mistakes' of the past. None of the eight people convicted in May returned to jail, including 69-year-old ringleader Aomar Ait Khedache, because of the time they had spent behind bars awaiting trial. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
