When three members of the British Alhilli family and a passing cyclist were shot dead in a remote corner of southwestern France, the world waited to find the culprit.
Ten years later, despite an investigation by 100 French police officers and his 60 British police officers, and four suspects being questioned. However, murders in theAlpsremain a mystery.
Zaid al-Hilli,, brother of the murdered Third, 63, called the French police's handling of the case "despicable" today, in an exclusive interview. He called him "totally incompetent" and accused him of racism because his family was from the Middle East.
Engineer Saad, 50, wife Iqbal, 47, dentist, whose daughters her Zainab and Zeena, then 7 years old and her 4 years old, Iqbal's mother Suhaila, 74 years old , all from Craigate. As Sallywas returning home from a holiday, a motorcyclist stopped them, shot and pistol-whipped the adults, and headed for Zainab, who was dead, but Gina was hiding in the car. rice field.
His Sylvain Mollier, 45, who overtook the French cyclist , also died, shooting him blank in the head.
Zaid, who is now a payroll manager at a South Coast golf club, told The Sun: We no longer believe a word the French authorities tell us.
"We've waited 10 years, but current police operations are looking 100 more years ahead and may not break through.
" I'd like to think there's always hope, but the only hope left for us is that the case is taken out of the hands of the local police and someone more capable finds who really killed our family.
"French police have created a catalog of errors, prematurely polluting crime scenes and trampling our lives.
"If my family had been French, I wonder if this case would have received more attention."
Near a picnic spot on Lake AnnecyThe scene of the terror was discovered by RAF veteran Brett Martin, now 63 years old. towards him.
Investigators believe Martin is still a suspect, according to a report from France last month.
But Zaid refused to go to France for questioning for fear of being arrested, and even though the true target of the murder was Moliet, Mr.
Iraqi-born Zaydwas detained in 2013 on murder charges but later released. However, he added: Not enough questions have been asked about Morie.
"My house was the only property searched in France, but it was only for an hour. It was a boxtick practice. They searched from 12:00 to 2:00 a.m.
"I don't know if the police over there are interested in finding out the truth. The truth probably doesn't reflect well on them." 55}
On the day of the tragedy, September 5, 2012, Zaid was in Worthing, West Sussex, walking with a friend.
He did not learn of the horror until the next day.
I don't know if there was any real investigation. We no longer believe a word the French authorities tell us.
Zaid al-Hilli
He said: My brother and his family were caught in the shooting. I said, "That's impossible." But my friend checked and confirmed. I felt a great numbness and emptiness. I couldn't believe it.
Within days, local prosecutor Eric Mylord claimed that Alhiris was the target and that Morie's death was a herring.
} Police were unable to seal off the crime scene until after a 48-hour search, and evidence was tainted.
Zaid said: It was hard to believe that Maillot would draw such a conclusion within hours. He couldn't have known anything, it was too early.
Zaid's ordeal came two weeks after a French magistrate called him to France to be questioned. It got even worse when
They investigated him over the sale of his £800,000 home to his late father, over a dispute he and his brother had a year before his murder. I was hoping to
Zaid said: They broke into my friend's apartment, broke down his door, and stole documents and computers. They were building it up as they went along.
All charges were later withdrawn.
It was a living nightmare. It was hard to believe that Maillot would draw such a conclusion within hours. He couldn't have known anything, it was too early.
Zaid al-Hilli
Zaid now may move French investigation to new cold case unit outside Paris I think.
He of France Martin is still considered a suspect, according to a report in Le Parisien last month.
But Zaid is not convinced.
He said: A continuation of the cover-up. It's like, "It's this guy's fault, he's a foreigner." This has something to do with Morie. he was a local Why didn't the local police investigate the line more closely? ''
French police held an event last year that recreated the final moments of Al-Hiris, who was traveling in his family's BMW.
Meanwhile, Zayd is a heartwarming development in which his niece Zainab, now 17, and her 14-year-old Gina, despite terrible ordeals, are now "having a happy, normal life and enjoying school." I'm talking about.
Zainab helped to vividly explain to police of the British Police what she remembered being grabbed by the attacker's arm, the "white arm".
Zaid said two teenagers who now live with relatives in the family but talk to him regularly said they were in a "good situation." It's in."
He says: They lead normal lives and are happy with school and friends.
The hope that one day the family will finally be closed and convicted drives Zaid.
He says: Proof gives you power. I hope that one day it will come true. "
