The family of murdered teacher Carl Davies has been rocked by news the man found guilty of his murder has been released pending a retrial.

Today marks the sixth anniversary since the Sittingbourne man was found dead on the south Indian Ocean island of Reunion.

Vincent Madouré, the man found guilty of the 33-year-old’s murder following a three-day trial in the island’s capital of Saint-Denis in June, was released on October 24 under judicial supervision, news site Clicanoo reported.

Carl’s sister Kerrie Stewart, 37, said: “It was a very hard blow for us because he has been found guilty of murdering Carl by three judges and 12 jurors so it’s been very hard to take.

“Our lawyer was fighting our cause but unfortunately he was freed.”

If he loses the appeal, Madouré faces the prospect of having his 15 year sentence doubled.

“It’s a massive gamble that he’s taken but there appears to be a reason,” Mrs Stewart added.

“It’s not what we wanted. We wanted Carl’s murderer to remain in prison. The evidence against him was overwhelming.”

The family now face the prospect of going back to Reunion Island to attend a retrial next year.

“None of us want to go through it all again. We are not strong enough. The trial destroyed us. It was absolutely awful" - Kerrie Stewart

Mrs Stewart said: “None of us want to go through it all again. We are not strong enough. The trial destroyed us. It was absolutely awful.

“But we have got to do it, we have go to go through it for him [Carl].

“It’s been six years since he was killed and the pain has never gone away.

“In fact it’s actually got worse knowing we’ll not see him again.

“Unfortunately [Madouré] has walked away. He’ll have conditions but at the moment he’s free.”

Mrs Stewart said the family still believe there are other people involved in the murder who have not faced justice.