Prosecutors investigating the murders of the British-Iraqi Al Hilli family in the French Alps are on the cusp of a breakthrough, 10 years after the killings shocked the world, a new documentary claims.
Saad Al Hilli, 50, his wife Iqbal, 47, and her mother Suhaila Al Allaf, 74, were shot dead at close range while holidaying in the picturesque Lake Annecy resort on September 5, 2012. Sylvain Mollier, 45, a local cyclist, was also killed, apparently after arriving at the scene.
The couple’s eldest daughter Zainab, aged 7 at the time, was shot and beaten but managed to survive, while her sister Zeena, 4, escaped unharmed by hiding under their mother’s skirt, unbeknown to the assassin.
In total, 25 shots were fired.
The killings transfixed the world and have been the subject of extensive international investigations but, despite police exploring multiple lines of inquiry, the perpetrator has yet to be found. Now, as the 10th anniversary approaches, Annecy’s public prosecutor offered hope of a turning point in the new Channel 4 docuseries Murder in the Alps.
“I think we’re nearly there,” the prosecutor said in the three-part series that delves into the mysterious murders.
Al Hilli, an Iraq-born engineer, lived in Surrey, south-east England, with his family. His past life and potential financial links to the late Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein gave rise to claims he could have been the main target of a planned attack.
In the early days, police in Britain focused their investigation on Al Hilli’s feud with his brother Zaid. The pair had fallen out over the ownership of a family property in Surrey and, at the time of the murders, were communicating only through their solicitors.
The brother was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder but released without charge after being questioned by police in Surrey. He denied having any involvement in the killings.
Appearing in the docuseries, Zaid described how he had spent the day of his brother’s murder in the seaside town of Worthing in West Sussex with a friend.
“It was just a normal day for me,” he said.
“Of course I got to know later how things were happening. A lovely day sort of later on turned out to be completely the opposite.
The third episode of Murder in the Alps airs on Channel Four in at 9pm, UK time, on Tuesday June 28. Episodes are available to watch on channel4.com.
MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Ukraine 2 (Yaremchuk 06', Yarmolenko 27')
Portugal 1 (Ronaldo 72' pen)
From exhibitions to the battlefield
In 2016, the Shaded Dome was awarded with the 'De Vernufteling' people's choice award, an annual prize by the Dutch Association of Consulting Engineers and the Royal Netherlands Society of Engineers for the most innovative project by a Dutch engineering firm.
It was assigned by the Dutch Ministry of Defence to modify the Shaded Dome to make it suitable for ballistic protection. Royal HaskoningDHV, one of the companies which designed the dome, is an independent international engineering and project management consultancy, leading the way in sustainable development and innovation.
It is driving positive change through innovation and technology, helping use resources more efficiently.
It aims to minimise the impact on the environment by leading by example in its projects in sustainable development and innovation, to become part of the solution to a more sustainable society now and into the future.
MATCH INFO
Inter Milan v Juventus
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ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies direct from Dubai to Rio de Janeiro from Dh7,000 return including taxes. Avianca fliles from Rio to Cusco via Lima from $399 (Dhxx) return including taxes.
The trip
From US$1,830 per deluxe cabin, twin share, for the one-night Spirit of the Water itinerary and US$4,630 per deluxe cabin for the Peruvian Highlands itinerary, inclusive of meals, and beverages. Surcharges apply for some excursions.
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
The biog
Name: Younis Al Balooshi
Nationality: Emirati
Education: Doctorate degree in forensic medicine at the University of Bonn
Hobbies: Drawing and reading books about graphic design
Day 1, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Sadeera Samarawickrama set pulses racing with his strokeplay on his introduction to Test cricket. It reached a feverish peak when he stepped down the wicket and launched Yasir Shah, who many regard as the world’s leading spinner, back over his head for six. No matter that he was out soon after: it felt as though the future had arrived.
Stat of the day - 5 The last time Sri Lanka played a Test in Dubai – they won here in 2013 – they had four players in their XI who were known as wicketkeepers. This time they have gone one better. Each of Dinesh Chandimal, Kaushal Silva, Samarawickrama, Kusal Mendis, and Niroshan Dickwella – the nominated gloveman here – can keep wicket.
The verdict Sri Lanka want to make history by becoming the first team to beat Pakistan in a full Test series in the UAE. They could not have made a better start, first by winning the toss, then by scoring freely on an easy-paced pitch. The fact Yasir Shah found some turn on Day 1, too, will have interested their own spin bowlers.
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Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
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