When asked how long the ballistic examination would take to conclude, she replied: “It will be carried out quickly. Whether we’ll get the results quickly is another matter, because it all depends on the condition of the weapon.
“It was submerged in the lake for some time. It may take a while before we get the results.”
Ms Lawrysz said she could not provide any more information on the identities of the tourists who found the weapon.
“From what I’ve gathered, they went on a dive in the lake and discovered this weapon. But where exactly, and how, I can’t tell you.”
Murder theories
Detectives have treated the murderer’s choice of weapon as evidence that they are not a professional assassin, as an older handgun is more likely to jam or misfire.
However, French army firearm instructors consulted by the prosecutors believe that the methodical and calm nature of the shootings suggests the culprit was a foreign special forces soldier who “went off the rails”.
The killer is believed by some sources to be a member of the elite Swiss counter-terror police force, the Détachement d’Action Rapide et de Dissuasion, because of how close-range the shots were.
No motive has been found by police despite exhaustive investigations in Britain, France and Iraq.
Numerous conspiracy theories have surrounded the case, some of which are connected to al-Hilli’s former job as an engineer in Iraq.