The ICD has cleared the police over the Sutherland, Karoo, shooting of French fugitives Philippe Ménière and Agnes Jardel.

French fugitives Philippe Meniere and his wife, Agnes Jardel, committed suicide, the Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD) said on Thursday.

French fugitive Philippe Meniere shot his wife Agnes Jardel dead and then turned the gun on himself, the Hawks said on Tuesday.

The ICD is conducting ballistic tests on confiscated firearms belonging to the French fugitives shot in the Karoo.

The police did offer the French couple who died in the Karoo a chance to surrender, French consul Antoine Michon told the <i>Star</i> on Tuesday.

An autopsy on a French couple, killed during an apparent shoot-out with police on a farm near Sutherland, was expected to be performed next week.

A French couple that shot dead a police officer and wounded another was believed to have been killed on Thursday.