Seven-year-old Zainab al-Hilli, shot in the shoulder, violently beaten and left in the road, has come out of her medically-induced coma - and could now hold the key to finding her family's killers.
Zainab, who was found unconscious by an ex-RAF British cyclist, had been in a coma in a hospital in Grenoble, but expected to pull through after an attack where her mother, father, another older relative and a French cyclist were killed with two bullets to the head.
Her sister Zeena has returned to the UK, unharmed in the attack, but traumatised. Police have said the 4-year-old cannot help them with the case.
Gendarmes are gathered in front of the CHU Hospital, in Grenoble, French Alps, where Zainab al-Hilli has come out of her coma
The Guardian reported that relatives from Britain were reported to be at the orphaned girl's bedside when she awoke.
Eric Maillaud, the public prosecutor, confirmed Zainab had "come out of the artificial coma and is under sedation."
He refused to speculate on when she would be interviewed by police.
Commenting on Zeena's departure, Maillaud said: "She returned to the UK by air. On arrival she was put under the care of the authorities and the social services."
Mr Maillaud said he did not know where she was going to stay.
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