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Alps murders: Efit of motorcyclist to be released | Alps murders: Efit of motorcyclist to be released |
(35 minutes later) | |
French police are to release an image of a man wanted in connection with the murders of four people in the Alps, the BBC understands. | French police are to release an image of a man wanted in connection with the murders of four people in the Alps, the BBC understands. |
Three members of the al-Hilli family - a father, mother and grandmother - were murdered at point blank range, near Annecy in September 2012. | Three members of the al-Hilli family - a father, mother and grandmother - were murdered at point blank range, near Annecy in September 2012. |
The BBC's Hugh Schofield said police told French press they had the efit at the start of the investigation. | The BBC's Hugh Schofield said police told French press they had the efit at the start of the investigation. |
"It was not released for fear the man would disguise himself," he said. | "It was not released for fear the man would disguise himself," he said. |
Saad al-Hilli, 50, was shot with his wife Iqbal, 47, his mother-in-law Suhaila al-Allaf and French cyclist Sylvain Mollier near Annecy. | Saad al-Hilli, 50, was shot with his wife Iqbal, 47, his mother-in-law Suhaila al-Allaf and French cyclist Sylvain Mollier near Annecy. |
His daughters Zainab, seven, and Zeena, four, survived. | His daughters Zainab, seven, and Zeena, four, survived. |
Prosecutor Eric Maillaud told the French press the image had been created at the start of the investigation but was not released "for strategic reasons". | |
He said: "We did not want this person to be alerted into changing his appearance. | |
"We cannot affirm that this man is the killer. What we do say is that the murders cannot have been the work of a single person. | |
"The most likely theory is that the motorcycle arrived at the scene ahead of the al-Hilli car after using forest tracks," | |
'All in black' | |
Brett Martin, a former RAF pilot who has a holiday home in the area, was on a cycle ride on 5 September 2012. | Brett Martin, a former RAF pilot who has a holiday home in the area, was on a cycle ride on 5 September 2012. |
He said he saw a motorcyclist leaving the scene of the shooting. | He said he saw a motorcyclist leaving the scene of the shooting. |
"He was going at a very slow, abnormally slow speed, and at the time it seemed odd," he told BBC's Panorama programme. | "He was going at a very slow, abnormally slow speed, and at the time it seemed odd," he told BBC's Panorama programme. |
A forestry worker coming down from a nearby mountain just minutes before the shooting also spoke to the programme. | A forestry worker coming down from a nearby mountain just minutes before the shooting also spoke to the programme. |
He said: "When I arrived, there was a motorbike pulling in to the parking area. I passed the parking and the motorbike was on the left here. | He said: "When I arrived, there was a motorbike pulling in to the parking area. I passed the parking and the motorbike was on the left here. |
"I remember it well, it was white, white and black, with panniers on either side. | "I remember it well, it was white, white and black, with panniers on either side. |
"The rider was all in black [and] his visor was completely closed." | "The rider was all in black [and] his visor was completely closed." |
French police have traced all the vehicles in the area that day except two - the motorbike and a grey four-by-four. | French police have traced all the vehicles in the area that day except two - the motorbike and a grey four-by-four. |
Only Zaid al-Hilli, the brother of the driver of the car, has ever been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder. | Only Zaid al-Hilli, the brother of the driver of the car, has ever been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder. |
He denies arranging the murders and remains on bail. | He denies arranging the murders and remains on bail. |