Kim Kardashian heist convict dies month after guilty verdict

One of the men convicted in connection with the infamous 2016 robbery targeting Kim Kardashian in Paris has died, according to French media reports.

Didier Dubreucq, 69, passed away just a month after being found guilty for his role in the armed heist that saw millions of dollars’ worth of jewelry stolen from the reality TV star.

Dubreucq, who was battling lung cancer and undergoing chemotherapy during the trial, had long maintained his innocence. “It's a mistaken identity case... I had nothing to do with this,” he testified in court back in April.

Dubbed "Blue Eyes," Dubreucq was one of eight men convicted in May over the high-profile burglary, often referred to in the press as the work of the “grandpa robbers” due to the older ages of the accused. Kardashian was reportedly tied up and held at gunpoint inside her private residence during Paris Fashion Week nearly a decade ago.

During the trial, Kardashian shared a harrowing account of the robbery. “I would be shot dead on the bed,” she recalled thinking as a gun was pointed at her head.

In total, the robbers made off with approximately USD 10 million worth of jewellery, including her USD 4 million engagement ring given to her by then-husband Kanye West.

Dubreucq received a seven-year sentence in May, five of which were suspended. However, he did not return to prison following the verdict, having already spent two years in pre-trial detention. Three other men were handed similar sentences, mostly suspended, and also avoided further incarceration.

Presiding Judge David De Pas justified the leniency, stating that “the state of health of the main protagonists ethically prohibits incarcerating anyone.”

In a statement following the convictions, Kardashian described the robbery as “the most terrifying experience of my life,” adding that it left a “lasting impact on me and my family.”