The mainstream media for the most part has moved on. But there are a few more gleanings to be had, of perhaps the most interesting comes from the Daily Mirror, which labels al-Hilli an extremist on the grounds that he was against the war in Iraq, disapproved of the behaviour of Israel and had doubts over 9/11 – which makes a great deal of the population “extremist”. But the Mirror has the only mainstream mention I can find of the possibility that Mossad carried out the killings. Given Mr al-Hilli’s profession, the fact he is a Shia, the fact he had visited Iran, and the fact that Israel heas been assassinating scientists connected to Iran’s nuclear programme, this has to be a possibility. There are of course other possibilities, but to ignore that one is ludicrous.
Which leads me to the argument of Daily Mail crime reporter, Stephen Wright, that the French police should concentrate on the idea that this was a killing by a random Alpine madman or racist bigot. Perfectly possible, of course, and the anti-Muslim killings in Marseille might be as much a precedent as Mossad killings of scientists. But why the lone madman idea should be the preferred investigation, Mr Wright does not explain. What I did find interesting from a man who has visited many crime scenes are his repeated insinuations that the French authorities are not really trying very hard to find who the killers were, for example:
the crime scene would have been sealed off for a minimum of seven to ten days, to allow detailed forensic searches for DNA, fibres, tyre marks and shoe prints to take place.
Nearby bushes and vegetation would have been searched for any discarded food and cigarette butts left by the killer, not to mention the murder weapon.
But from what I saw at the end of last week, no such searches had taken place and potentially vital evidence could have been missed. House to house inquiries in the local area had yet to be completed and police had not made specific public appeals for information about the crime. No reward had been put up for information about the shootings.
Behind the scenes, what other short cuts have been taken? Have police seized data identifying all mobile phones being used in the vicinity of the murders that day?
The idea that the French authorities – who are quite as capable as any other of solving cases – are not really trying very hard is an interesting one.
Which leads me to this part of a remarkable article from the Daily Telegraph, which if true points us back towards a hit squad and discounts the ides that there was only one gun:
Claims that only one gun was used to kill everybody is likely to be disproved by full ballistics test results which are out in October.
While the 25 spent bullet cartridges found at the scene are all of the same kind, they could in fact have come from a number of weapons of the same make.
This throws up the possibility of a well-equipped, highly-trained gang circling the car and then opening fire.
Both children were left alive by the killers, who had clinically pumped bullets into everybody else, including five into Mr Mollier.
Zainab was found staggering around outside the car by Brett Martin, a British former RAF serviceman who cycled by moments after the attack, but he saw nobody except the schoolgirl.
Her sister, Zeena, was found unscathed and hiding in the car eight hours later.
Both sisters are now back in Britain, and are believed to have been reunited at a secret location near London.
There are of course a number of hit squad options, both governmental and private, which might well involve iraqi or Iranian interests – on both of which the mainstream media have been very happy to speculate while almost unanimously ignoring Israel.
But what interests me is why the Daily Telegraph choose, in the face of all the evidence, to minimise the horrific nature of the attack by stating that “Both children were left alive by the killers”? Zainab was not left alive by design, she was shot in the chest and her skull was stove in, which presumably was a pretty serious attempt to kill a seven year-old child. The other girl might very well have succeeded in hiding from the killers under her mother’s skirts, as she hid from the first rescuers, and then for eight hours from the police.
The Telegraph article claims to be informed by sources close to the investigation. So they believe it was a group of people, and feel motivated to absolve those people from child-killing. Now what could the Daily Telegraph be thinking?
I’m still not sure why a local newspaper would spell “Mollier” as “Molliex”. Surely they must know the correct spelling of the surnames of victims of a mass murder in their own back yard.
The news website reveals that the surname “Molliex” is associated with a high-profile local politician.
http://www.google.fr/cse?cx=partner-pub-1772758994428810%3Ayvk2y09qqvf&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=%22sylvain+molliex%22&sa=%3E%3E&siteurl=www.lasavoie.fr%2FActualite%2FAlbertville%2F2014%2F07%2F06%2Farticle_de_chevaline_a_bozel_l_actualite_des_fai.shtml%23.VAh5rxZeJOg&ref=&ss=8607j3938567j27#gsc.tab=0&gsc.q=molliex
They didn’t mention the campground owner’s murder in their list of unfortunate happenings to curse the region in recent years, nor the number of bodies washing up in Annecy, nor the strange appearance of a couple of elderly fugitives on the lam. Maybe that’s another oversight. It’s hard to keep track of all the crimes, tragedies and misfortunes in the area. Maybe they concern themselves only with the immediate Albertville area.
He said Iqbal Al-Hilli was ‘secretly married’ to an American dentist 13 years her senior, identified only at James T, between February 1999 and December 2000.
Why would the Daily Mail think Iqbal was secretly married to a dentist who was 13 years her senior and who died at the wheel of his car, whilst it was at traffic lights, yet mysteriously there was NO AUTOPSY?
A couple of young males have gone missing in separate incidents in the area. The latest was a 17-year-old from Moûtiers, who disappeared after school. Could be a runaway.
What are the chances
in the U.S.A. a dentist who died while parked at traffic lights whilst at the wheel of his car
did not get an autopsy
A million to one?
I bet that previously NO DENTIST IN THE U.S.A. has ever died whilst at the wheel of their car
whilst stopped at a traffic light and NOT BEEN GIVEN AN AUTOPSY
Poison darts, disinterment, almost simultaneous deaths an ocean away: There can be no doubt that Chevaline is a matter of espionage and various cover-ups at the highest levels in more than one country. “Kelly” Green Card isn’t even a clever code name.
And Jim Thompson was not a dentist, MN. What he did for a living is another question. Thompson, James Thompson.
Legionnaires are given false names and false passports when they sign up. Some are from Romania, and elsewhere.
http://www.vice.com/en_ca/read/a-canadian-in-the-french-foreign-legion
Who was that suicided ex-Legionnaire in the Haute-Savoie, really?
False passports, or stolen ones?
Who could have hurt Zeena al-Hilli? Some are capable:
http://youngrory.wordpress.com/2013/06/18/what-is-the-hardest-thing-you-have-ever-done/
Sorry, I meant Zainab.
To return the favor for the Q link (see above, my previous post) I’ll give my current line of thought/angle in one line. Probably as a contrast to what you folks are after. Be assured, I won’t mingle here, just returning a favor and perhaps it serves as a good laugh for you all;)
It is about SM. He was target. He was shot 4 times. The first volley. Zainab probably was ‘in the way’ when she went watching the riverside, and caught 1 bullet in the shoulder. That accounts for 5 bullets. In total there were 21 bullets fired. 15 were found around the stuck BMW. That leaves 1 bullet to account for, probably fired in the first volley.
(Ahh, I guess I need a bit more lines;)
SAH tried to escape. Leaving Zainab behind? I guess never! I think SAH possibly tried to crush X, when X was close to the downed body of SM. SAH missed X, but caught SM and dragged him to the other side, where SAH’s BMW got stuck.
Possibly X was so enraged by SAH trying to run him down, that X returned the favor, and killed SAH and the women, who were trapped because the BMW was stuck.
The problem is still the fact that X had 3 mags with ammo. But possibly he had just bought it as a ‘bundle’ (perhaps bought it from the motorbiker)
The X5? This is SAH! In my scenario SAH is completely collateral. SAH went 2(!) times to Martinet. This aligns 4 details (Fillon 14h40, LastPicture 15h17, X5/BMW/RHD and 2 sets of front wheel tyre visible at Martinet)
Why did SAH go 2 times? I think SAH bumped into the motorbiker on his first visit. Perhaps it was a bit ‘unfriendy’ and SAH decided to go back to Doussard and come back later (45 minutes later) in the hope this motorbiker would be gone
SAH is purely collateral (despite having a very interesting background and family, etc:)
To me … It is about SM. Pure and simple.
The Q link gives me a slightly new angle to work on. I have a scenario which involves CS. CS knows (she raised the alarm at 17h00). In my view LR also knows (she phoned SM at 15h32, a few minutes before SM was shot).
LR was aware of trouble for SM? Possibly, but how did she know? I always thought it was through CS, but with the Q link I now think LR knew through SM’s sister. SM’s sis knew the Ugine suicide guy. Perhaps she knew what was going to happen and phoned LR, SM’s ex-wife. LR picked up the phone and tried to warn/cooldown SM
Is X the Ugine suicide guy?
Perhaps
…
Happy hunting, and thanks again for the link
– Max
The blighter sometimes gets away:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1325838/Cameron-Sarkozy-make-defence-pact-Britain-really-trust-French.html
It is quite possible that the local media dropped us a clue with “Molliex”. Monsieur X. It is quite likely from the stories of the Legion that those who check in to the Legion never really leave. I don’t think they’d make good domestic partners. Blood is thicker than water. You’re welcome, Max.
For history buffs, Nicolas Sarkozy’s father joined in the French Foreign Legion for a short time in the 1940s, but was discharged.
Back to this:
http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/406839/Mystery-of-Alps-murder-deepens-as-clues-suggest-British-family-was-not-main-target
“Mollier’s brother Christopher said recently: “Both Claire’s parents are approaching retirement and have been extremely successful and they wanted Claire to take charge. She’s a qualified pharmacist and worked for them. Sylvain had been through a difficult divorce and had a lot of financial commitments so naturally was very happy with the development. However there were serious frictions between the Molliers and Claire Schutz’s family.”
“The two families have now cut all ties and only one of Mollier’s four siblings was invited to his funeral by Claire’s father Thierry, who took charge of the arrangements and buried him in a secret ceremony.
“Meanwhile Claire’s mother is related to a prominent member of the French parliament.
“Pierre Morange is an ally of former president Nicholas Sarkozy and mayor of Chambourcy, near Paris.
“After the murder of his police chief six years ago he was granted permission to carry a handgun.
“He is advising the Schutz family but has refused to comment on Mollier’s death.
“Some have suggested the authorities are turning the focus elsewhere out of deference to him.”
Does anyone know which one of the four Molliex, sorry, Mollier, siblings was allowed to attend the secret funeral for Sylvain? Was it the sister who was involved with the ex-Legionnaire?
Which of the Molliers was banished from the funeral by Claire’s father?
Great article Q.
As ever…lots of digging by you comes up trumps.
Now we have to wait for pressure to build on the French investigation team to reveal what they actually know !
Will ONF2 (x2) step forward and say….
It was them (…or it wasn’t them)that descended the Combe D’Ire ?
Will they say the saw SAH and SM or not ?
Eric…. you now have to come clean !
You were “right” about the killer (an ex “mercenary” ! Was that a guess ?).
Mollier was the target ?
And “ex” guys did it ?
It all just got “out of hand” ?
The “conspiracy” is….. The French Justice System. Shame on you !
Apparently some in France, when they’re not staying in billionaire’s (RIP) mansion on the other side of the pond while their house is being searched, believe that the French justice system is used for political ends.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/07/02/us-france-sarkozy-idUSKBN0F63C520140702
Nooooo ! Your kidding me ! To do such a thing !
Wait till the U.S. (united with the U.K) start bombing Syria because of ISIL, ISIS, IS (I forget where we are with names) has “cut” some amateur journo’s head off.
LETS HAVE A WAR !
The “we hate Assad” campaign didn’t work out.
The British Govt even failed in “the house” to get the vote to supply “the rebels” with weapons.
So we have “part two”.
Or should that be “Beheading Part II. The Final Act”
The “rebels” become “the bad guys”.
It’s becoming unbelievable these days.
http://www.libramemoria.com/avis/le-dauphine/savoie/2012/09/18/avis-sylvain-mollier?Page=4
“Claire, son amour; Léo, Mathis et Louis, ses trois garçons adorés; Suzanne, sa maman; Alain, Christophe, François, ses frères; Sylviane, sa sœur; Stéphanie et Nathalie, ses belles-sœurs; ses nièces, son neveu; les familles Mollier, Schutz, Ginolin, ses amis, ont la douleur de vous faire part du décès de
Sylvain MOLLIER
survenu brutalementle 5septembre 2012.Les obsèques ont eu lieu dans l’intimité. La famille rappelle à votre souvenir, ROGER son papa, décédé en 2011.
Grignon”
http://www.libramemoria.com/avis/le-dauphine/savoie/2014/07/01/avis-suzanne-mollier?Page=1
“Avis de décès de Suzanne MOLLIER
Alain, Christophe, François, Sylviane, ses enfants; ses belles-filles; ses petits-enfants; son arrière-petite-fille; sa sœur; ses beaux-frères et belles-sœurs, et toute la famille ont la tristesse de vous faire part du décès de
Suzanne MOLLIER née GINOLIN
à l’âge de 78 ans.Selon sa volonté, ses obsèques ont eu lieu dans l’intimité familiale.Cet avis tient lieu de faire-partet de remerciements.
Albertville”
Not a word about Sylvain, nor her late husband Roger. Another private funeral.
There is a Sylviane C. in Albertville, in her 40s. Not sure if she is Sylvain’s Sylviane. I’m sure some of the expert people finders here can source out Sylvain Mollier’s sister and possibly the ex-Legionnaire from there.
Suzanne…that’s the mother.
Sylviane…..and that’s the sister !
But there’s more.
It was the Mollier family that filed against the TV programme for publishing the leaked pics of the dead Mollier…..not the CS family.
There is a Sylviane D. in Savoie, and others. Where are experts?
NOW THEN the mother was in a home.
And she later died.
Roger was already dead.
Meanwhile Mollier himself is doing well for himself !
It was in the “memorial” in the paper.
They gave all their names.
I recall thinking “how strange, bro and sis called the same.
Very “French” !
Q this is from Lynda (I’ll explain).
I quote:
MAX: WBM saw 4x4VERT coming DOWN. Later (october) police said 4x4vert=ONF … Is this still correct?
JMD: It was a Visa Citroën (fourgon) a green one. The drivers are identified.
MAX: Identified as ONF? This driver MUST have seen both SM and SAH … correct?
JMD: They crossed sm but not sah who arrived First on martinet place. Sm arrived later.
James, it isn’t impossible to turn off that route as I described, go for a trip on Google Streetview of the route forestiere.
Q….
It is impossible. It is totally impossible.
ONF2 saw the MC (photo fit)
They didn’t see SAH (WTF !)
Then they saw SM (How…? Recall ZAH/Eric’s statement)
Finally they saw WBM (He’s said this twice ! And the reason why is….. !)
Please explain “why” and “where” they drove to between seeing the MC…..and then seeing SM and later WBM ?
Now I’ll wait until the “MSM” pick this up….and then ask some very searching questions of the French investigation !
It’ll be interesting to see what “new stuff” they release.
Q “update”
It now appears the French have “thrown in” another vehicle !
ONF3 !!!!!
Just keep adding cars, people, motorbikes….an elephant ? A stray pig ?
No wonder it’ll be “unsolved”.
Just add more water.
@James: I’m counting on the MSM.
June 2014 must have been difficult for Sylviane and the rest of the family, with one death at the beginning of the month, and another at the end. The family was very careful not to give her surname, nor the surnames of the conjointes of her brothers. They’ve seen a lot of death over the past few years. It must be wearing them down. There’s no certainty that X died in June, but that is when the story came out.
This is not the first time I’ve seen a male and female version of the same name in one French family. It is very French.
All the sleight of hand with vehicles seen and unseen is just a distraction at this point. So now, we wait.
@Michael Norton
5 Sep, 2014 – 4:16 pm
Don’t entirely agree with what you said about the Dauphine Libere article being utter garbage.
http://www.ledauphine.com/faits-divers/2014/09/04/deux-ans-d-enquete-et-aucun-espoir-d-elucidation-rapide
This for me is the interesting bit, about the square metres of “procédures” generated by the enquiry:
Des mètres cubes de procédures
Chaque révélation, fuite, rumeur ou rebondissement laisse espérer que l’enquête vient de progresser, que le mystère est peut-être sur le point d’être résolu. Ce serait oublier que le temps judiciaire diffère sensiblement du temps médiatique. L’épisode américain d’Iqbal al-Hilli : « Nous l’avons su très vite, bien avant Noël 2012 » admet une source proche du dossier. Même chose pour le portrait-robot, diffusé 14 mois après la tuerie mais que les enquêteurs avaient en leur possession depuis les premiers jours. Et ceux qui connaissent le dossier assurent qu’il recèle encore bien d‘autres “surprises”.
Good point that the judicial time differs considerably from the media time, and that there are plenty of other surprises to come!
We’ve just got to wait and see.