The killer then returned to Mr Mollier, who had been wounded by the first shots, police believe.

BBC: French Alps murders: Cyclist 'was shot first'

The fourth victim, a cyclist whose body was found near the car, has been named as 45-year-old Sylvain Mollier.

BBC: Alps shootings: Bomb squad visits Saad al-Hilli home

Mr Mollier worked for a subsidiary of a company called Areva Group, producing metals for use in constructing nuclear reactors.

BBC: French Alps murders: Cyclist 'was shot first'

Mr al-Hilli's dentist wife Iqbal, 47, her mother, Suhaila Al-Allaf, 74, and passing cyclist Sylvain Mollier were killed in the gun attack.

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Saad al-Hilli and his wife Iqbal from Claygate, Surrey, her mother Suhaila al-Allaf and French cyclist Sylvain Mollier were shot on 5 September.

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Last week a leaked police report of a provisional scenario suggested the cyclist also found dead at the scene, Sylvain Mollier, was shot first.

BBC: French Alps murders: Uncle's concerns over police probe

The fourth victim, a cyclist whose body was found near the car after apparently stumbling across the attack, has been named as 45-year-old Sylvain Mollier.

BBC: UK

The French prosecutor Eric Maillaud said early on in the investigation that Mr Mollier, who lived near the site of the shootings, was an innocent bystander in "the wrong place at the wrong time".

BBC: French Alps murders: Uncle's concerns over police probe

Early on in the investigation Mr Mollier, who lived near the site of the shootings, was characterised by French chief prosecutor in the case, Eric Maillaud, as an innocent bystander in "the wrong place at the wrong time".

BBC: French Alps murders: Cyclist 'was shot first'