A former policeman questioned by French investigators over the murder of the Al-Hilli family has been 'cleared' of involvement in their deaths.

Eric Devouasoux, 48, was arrested on Tuesday in a town near to where the Claygate Al-Hilli family were attacked after inquiries into the distinctive headgear of a motorcylist seen near the Chevaline killings in September 2012.

He was released a day early from his four day arrest. However he, and a friend arrested on Wednesday, are still being investigated on arms trafficking offences.

A stash of weapons was found at his home including a Luger similar to, but not the same as, the weapon which was used to murder the Al-Hilli family and French cyclist Sylvain Mollier, 45.

French prosecutor Eric Maillaud told Le Figaro newspaper: "If no link between the former policeman and the killings has been found for now, that does not necessarily mean that it will not be found in the future.

"If we are talking about a random killing, it is almost inevitable that investigators cannot establish a motive."

Saad Al-Hilli, 50, was found shot to death in his car with his wife Iqbal and her mother, while a French cyclist was also found shot dead nearby.

The two Al-Hilli children, both former pupils of Claygate School, survived the attack.

Zainab, then seven, was shot and pistol whipped by the gunman but survived the attack and Zeena, then four, escaped unharmed after she hid beneath her mother’s skirt.