Didier Dubreucq, one of the men convicted for the 2016 armed robbery of reality star Kim Kardashian in Paris, has died just weeks after being found guilty, French media reports.
Dubreucq, 69, was reportedly battling lung cancer and had been undergoing chemotherapy while in detention prior to the trial. He was among eight men convicted for their roles in the high-profile heist, which saw Kardashian bound and robbed at gunpoint inside a luxury Paris apartment.
Known by the nickname “Blue Eyes,” Dubreucq was one of two men who held Kardashian at gunpoint, stealing an estimated £7.5 million worth of jewellery, including a £3 million engagement ring gifted to her by then-husband Kanye West.
During the trial, Dubreucq tearfully reflected on his criminal past, expressing regret and telling the court: “I told my son, ‘I hope you don’t become like your father.’ And I’m keeping a close watch.”
The robbery took place on October 3, 2016, and shocked the world. Kardashian later recounted the harrowing ordeal, revealing that she feared she would be raped or killed during the incident. The attackers had posed as police officers, handcuffed the concierge, and forced him to lead them to her apartment.
Kardashian was eventually left tied up in a bathroom but managed to free herself after the robbers fled. The gang escaped on bicycles and on foot, but were later tracked down and brought to justice.
Dubreucq’s death brings a dramatic end to the story of one of France’s most infamous jewellery heists in recent history.
