France Murder Victim Clashed With 'Control Freak' Brother

A new detail in this week's multiple murder in the French Alps: Saad al-Hilli, who was gunned down with his wife and mother, had written a letter calling his brother a "control freak" who should be wiped "out of my life." Saad and brother Zaid clashed over their father's assets, and Zaid and "demanded control," wrote Saad. "Sad but I need to concentrate now on my wife and two lovely girls..." The Daily Mail reports that Zaid is being questioned by police today but dismissed the conflict as a "minor squabble."

As for Saad's daughters, the 4-year-old who was unhurt in the attack has returned to Britain to stay with an aunt and uncle, an official tells the Daily Mail. And 7-year-old Zainab, who was shot and bludgeoned, emerged from a medically induced coma today in a French hospital, the Guardian reports. Eric Maillaud, the prosecutor running the investigation, has called her a "key witness" but says there is no rush to question her: "It is terrible that a victim, especially a child ... has to be asked questions, that will inevitably cause her even more suffering." (More France stories.)