Fourteen years after the Chevaline massacre, the enigmatic quadruple murder of a British family perpetrated in 2012, in Haute-Savoie, the investigation could reach a turning point. The Nanterre cold case center hopes to bring the truth to light. Prosecutor Marie-Céline Lawrysz revealed on RTL the desire of the magistrates to organize a re-enactment at the scene of the crime in the presence of the two surviving sisters, Zainab and Zeena Al-Hilli, aged 4 and 7 at the time.
Now aged 18 and 21, the two young women have not been heard by the courts since 2021. The idea is to confront them physically instead of the tragedy. It’s about “bringing them to France and to the scene of the events to try to rework the memory and perhaps obtain additional elements,” she explained in the program “L’Heure du crime”. “We see it in other cases, re-enactments with very specific hearings and methods, with investigators very experienced in the techniques of hearing traumatized victims who, at the scene of the events, can obtain details, new indications from witnesses or victims,” she added.
Difficulties
The implementation of this rehabilitation faces two obstacles: the State must organize and advance the funds for the transport and stay of the two survivors from the United Kingdom and the formal agreement of the two young women must be obtained before any intervention on site.
Although no suspects or motive have yet been established, the investigation is ongoing. On August 20, a Luger pistol was brought to the surface by British tourists who were swimming in Lake Annecy. Although this weapon was initially suspected of being linked to the killing, the latest expert reports indicate that it does not correspond to the one used on September 5, 2012.
