Trial gets underway for men accused of robbing Kim Kardashian in Paris in 2016

Kim Kardashian has taken the stand and revealed harrowing new details in the trial for the men accused of robbing her in 2016.

Kim Kardashian wept as she told a court she thought she was going to die when robbers stormed her hotel room and held her at gunpoint.

The reality star is giving evidence in a Paris courtroom today as the trial of 10 suspects accused of stealing $10 million worth of jewellery in the 2016 heist continues.

Kim told the court she thought she was in the middle of a terror attack when the masked burglars burst into her hotel room.

Describing the horrifying moment they pointed a gun at her, she said: “I was on the bed and then one of them had the gun up to me and at that point that’s when they were going to shoot me, that’s when I was certain that they would shoot me.”

“The other had the gun up to my back.

“That’s the first moment when I thought should I run for it and run down the stairs.

“That’s when I realised I should just do whatever they say.”

Speaking of her terror as she was thrown onto her hotel bed, naked under her robe, she said: “The robe opens up and everything is exposed on my bottom half.

“I was certain that was the moment he was going to rape me.

“He pulled me towards him and I said a prayer and tried to mentally prepare myself.”

She added that she begged the concierge to “please translate to them that I have babies, I have to make it home.”

Kim Kardashian arrives at the Assize Court for the trial. Picture: Alain Jocard/AFP

When they first burst into her room, Kim explained that she had no idea what they wanted, and said: “I was still in such shock, because honestly a lot of terrorist attacks were going on in the world and me and my friends were talking about what was going on in the world.

“I didn’t get what was happening and I didn’t get it was about my jewellery, even though they specifically asked for my ring.”

While fearing for her life, Kim explained that she’d said a prayer for her family.

“At that point I was sure that’s when they were going to shoot me,” she said.

“So I said a prayer for my family and my mum and my sister and best friend.”

Kim added that she thought about the moment her family would walk in to find her dead body, and “hoped they would have an OK life after”.

She recalled thinking she “would be shot dead on the bed and she [Kourtney] would see that and have that memory forever.”

When pressed by the judge, Kim confirmed: “I absolutely did think I was gonna die.”

After the attackers left, Kim later managed to free her hands and hopped down to find friend pal Simone Harouche.

Kim told the court how the terror raid has affected her life since.

She said: “I think this experience really changed everything for us.

“I never thought that we were ever not safe before this.”

She waved at crowds as she arrived. Picture: Alain JOCARD / AFP

She wore a massive diamond necklace and matching earrings. Picture: Thomas SAMSON / AFP

Shortly after midday, Kim had made her way to the courtroom, surrounded by four burly security guards.

An additional ten members of the Gendarmerie, the French police, were also drafted into the courtroom for her appearance.

Kim flew into the French capital on Monday on a private jet supported by her mother Kris Jenner and her boyfriend Corey Gamble.

Her pal Simone Harouche, 45, who was staying in the same hotel at the time of the heist, testified at the courthouse on Tuesday morning.

Harouche was spotted arriving at the court wearing a floor length black coat, accompanied by her lawyer.

The reality star’s stylist was in a nearby room in the hotel when the terrifying raid took place in 2016.

She reportedly locked herself in the bathroom and called Kim’s security guard when she heard screams.

She told the court how Kim begged: “I have babies and I need to live.”

She said: “I think that that moment changed her life forever.

“I think that it changed for both of us, but particularly for her, her loss of freedom.

“She has a completely different lifestyle.

“In terms of security she can’t go alone, she doesn’t go alone to places any more.

“To lose your sense of freedom is horrible.

“I just want justice to be served.”

She travelled to the French capital with mum Kris Jenner and her partner Corey Gamble. Picture: Thomas Samson/AFP

Harouche was the first person Kim ran to after managing to free herself.

She told the court: “I have seen her through the death of family, I have seen her through divorce, through the worst of times, very difficult times, I have never seen her like this.”

The star is ready to “confront” her alleged attackers. Picture: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File

Harouche was travelling with Kardashian at the time. Picture: Simone Harouche/Instagram

Describing her own journey home, the stylist said: “When I got on the flight I started crying and I cried pretty much the whole plane ride home.”

Harouche is one of Kim’s oldest friends with the pair knowing each other since the age of 11.

Kim, 44, is expected to start giving evidence inside the grand courtroom at 1pm UK time.

The reality star flew into the French capital on Monday on a private jet supported by her mother Kris Jenner and her boyfriend Corey Gamble.

This comes as her lawyers said last week that Kim was finally ready to “confront” her alleged attackers.

Plaintiff Abderrahmane Ouatiki (right) and his lawyer, Henri De Beauregard, arriving at court on Tuesday. Picture: Kiran Ridley/Getty Images

French lawyers Leonor Hennerick and Jonathan Mattout said: “She is committed to attending in person.”

They added that she would go in with “dignity and courage”.

The landmark trial has attracted a lot of attention with queues outside the court starting at 6am this morning.

Around 500 foreign media accredited by the French justice system will also be in attendance along with a huge police presence.

Ten people are on trial for stealing $10 million worth of luxury jewels – including Kim’s $4 million diamond engagement ring.

Of the ten being tried, five are on trial for armed robbery and kidnap charges while the rest are on for complicity in the heist or possession of a weapon.

French media has dubbed the gang of criminals “Grandpa robbers” because many are in their 60s and 70s with ailing health.

Police guard outside the courtroom ahead of the trial. Picture: AP Photo/Aurelien Morrisard

Most have criminal records spanning back decades and have spent much of their adult lives behind bars.

The alleged ringleader of the group, Aomar Ait Khedache, 68, has been questioned but is deaf and mute and had to write his answers down.

He has also reportedly written a letter to Kim from jail apologising for the trauma he caused.

Most of the defendants are expected to receive lengthy jail sentences if found guilty.

The trial is expected to continue until the end of May.

Kim was left fearing for her life during the horror attack after the gang bound her hands and feet, and taped her mouth.

The attackers then carried her to the bathtub wearing only a bathrobe.

And the court has heard that it was likely the dressing gown came undone at some point during the heist and the robbers saw her partially naked.

The reality star has previously spoken of how she thought she was going to be raped and killed during the raid in an emotional interview on US TV.

Kim said: “I was like, ‘Okay, this is the time I’m going to get raped’.”

She added that she that worried for her sister Kourtney, who was out clubbing, and said: “I’m gonna be dead in the room and she’s gonna be traumatised for the rest of her life.”

This article originally appeared in The Sun and was reproduced with permission.

Originally published as Trial gets underway for men accused of robbing Kim Kardashian in Paris in 2016