In brief
Didier Dubreucq, sentenced for his role in the high-profile theft, succumbed to lung cancer a month post-verdict, following a prolonged health battle.
Didier Dubreucq, one of the convicted thieves in the notorious "grandpa robbers" case involving Kim Kardashian, has died from lung cancer just a month after he was found guilty. The Frenchman, aged 69, had been diagnosed with the illness while in custody before his trial and was receiving chemotherapy treatments.In May, Dubreucq and seven others were convicted of orchestrating a dramatic heist in Paris in 2016, during which millions worth of jewelry was stolen from Kardashian. Despite the evidence against him, Dubreucq maintained his innocence, claiming, "It's a mistaken identity case... I had nothing to do with this" during his testimony in court.Due to his chemotherapy and health concerns, Dubreucq was absent when the sentence was handed down. He received a seven-year prison sentence, with five years suspended, and did not serve additional time as he had already spent two years in pre-trial detention. Judge David De Pas remarked on his condition, stating that "the state of health of the main protagonists ethically prohibits incarcerating anyone."Throughout the three-week trial, haunting details emerged about the traumatic ordeal Kardashian endured. She was held at gunpoint, bound, and feared for her life, a sentiment she expressed in an emotional statement following the verdicts. The gang, dubbed the "grandpa robbers" because of the ages of its members, made off with around $10 million worth of jewelry, including a $4 million engagement ring from her then-husband, rapper Kanye West. Kardashian has since described the robbery as the most terrifying experience of her life, which left enduring impacts on her and her family.
