Mysterious motorcyclist finally ruled out as hunt for Alps murderer goes on

A motorcyclist sought by police investigating the murders of three members of a British family in the French Alps has been identified - and ruled out of the inquiry, according to reports. Police traced the biker last month - more than two years after the the shooting of engineer Saad al-Hilli, his wife Ikbal and her mother Suhaila al-Allaf, on a forest road in Chevaline in September 2012. But authorities have said the man, from Lyon, had no connection to the killings and was in the area “by accident” when they took place, according to France Info.

His personal and professional profile exclude him 95% from the list of suspects but further inquiries are still required.

French police spokesman

He was interviewed by detectives from Chambery and told them he came to Chevaline to practice his passion for paragliding, the radio station said. The motorcyclist was said to have been driving on the Combe d’Ire road at around 3pm before he was stopped by two forest rangers who asked him to leave. He agreed, driving back down the path past the car park where the Al-Hilli family and a cyclist were gunned down. According to sources close to the investigation, he has not given any information that could lead to new witnesses.