Kim Kardashian robbery trial: One of the defendants died shortly before the trial began

The trial for the brutal robbery of Kim Kardashian (44) is scheduled to begin in the French capital on April 28. The reality star was attacked in Paris in October 2016. The robbers stole jewelry worth around ten million euros – and were dubbed the "Grandpa Robbers" by the French press because of their advanced age. Now the Daily Mail reports that one of the defendants died just a few weeks ago.

Defendant died shortly before trial began

The suspect is said to be fence Marceau Baum-Gertner, who was not directly involved in the robbery in which Kardashian was bound and gagged. However, Baum-Gertner is alleged to have been responsible for finding buyers for valuable possessions, including an engagement ring worth €4 million.

The Daily Mail reports that he was a leading figure in the Parisian underworld and a criminal convicted multiple times for receiving stolen goods, forgery, and robbery. He died in Paris on March 6. No cause of death was given.

In an official announcement dated March 14, he was named as one of the main defendants scheduled to appear in court in Paris next week. Baum-Gertner was not in prison, had been released on bail after his arrest in connection with the robbery of Kim Kardashian eight years ago, and lived in Paris, where he had to report to the police regularly, a source told the British newspaper.

Ten of the original twelve defendants, also known in the French press as the "pensioners' gang," are now scheduled to go to trial. In addition to Baum-Gertner, 72-year-old Pierre Bouianère has been excluded from the trial. The convicted drug trafficker suffers from Alzheimer's disease. His case will be heard in a separate trial.

Reality star will testify in court

According to Sky News, Kardashian is expected to appear in court in person and testify as a witness. Her American lawyer, Michael Rhodes, also made the statement in a statement sent by her French lawyers to the daily newspaper Le Parisien . "We can confirm that Ms. Kardashian will personally testify in the upcoming French criminal trial regarding the 2016 incident in which she was bound and robbed at gunpoint by masked assailants," the statement read.

The trial is scheduled to take place at the Paris Court of Appeal until May 23. According to preliminary planning, the celebrity testimony is scheduled for May 13. "Ms. Kardashian is reserving her testimony for the court and the jury and does not wish to comment further at this time," the lawyer added in the statement.

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