Two suspects, including the ex-husband of one victim, have been arrested in Luxembourg over the murder of three French nationals in South Africa.<\/p>\n
The bodies of three adults who had suffered multiple violent blows with a blunt weapon were discovered on 11 July at two separate locations near Pretoria, said Gauthier Poupeau, the public prosecutor in Coutances, northwest France.<\/p>\n
The victims were a couple from near Mont Saint Michel in Normandy, and the woman\u2019s mother. They had arrived in South Africa the previous day with the woman\u2019s daughter, a minor.<\/p>\n
South African authorities arrested a 44-year-old man identified as the girl\u2019s father and the ex-husband of one of the victims. He had arrived in South Africa shortly before the others.<\/p>\n
He however returned to Europe with the girl and another family member the day after the bodies were discovered.<\/p>\n
Police in France traced the two suspects to Luxembourg. The girl\u2019s father and his alleged accomplice (71), were detained on 22 July by Luxembourg police on a European arrest warrant.<\/p>\n
The girl was taken into protective custody and repatriated to France the same day.<\/p>\n
The two suspects are currently in custody in Luxembourg and are expected to be handed over to French authorities shortly. They will face charges of murder, kidnapping, unlawful detention of a minor and criminal conspiracy.<\/p>\n
Other individuals close to the main suspect have been taken into police custody in France and charged with criminal conspiracy and the abduction of a minor as part of an organised criminal group.<\/p>\n