French Bar Owners Moretti Face Murder‑by‑Intent Charges over Crans‑Montana Fire
Swiss prosecutors are being urged by victims' lawyers to reclassify the criminal charges against Jacques and Jessica Moretti, the French co‑owners of the Le Constellation bar in Crans‑Montana, from negligence homicide to "murder by eventual intent" (dol éventuel). The request is based on WhatsApp exchanges from 2019 that show the couple knew the acoustic foam in the bar's basement was highly flammable and that candle sparks could ignite it.
The fire, sparked on New Year’s Eve when candles ignited the foam, killed 41 people and injured 115, many of them foreign tourists. Fourteen individuals, including the Morettis, current and former municipal officials and bar employees, are under investigation for various negligence and homicide offences. Lawyers Sophie Haenni and Ludovic Tirelli argue the evidence warrants a charge that carries a possible life sentence.
The legal move follows earlier criticism of lax fire safety controls at the venue, with officials admitting that safety checks had been missing since 2019. The case also involves accusations of falsified invoices related to the acoustic foam.