In brief
The ongoing legal proceedings surrounding the Crans-Montana bar fire have drawn attention as Jacques and Jessica Moretti face allegations of negligence following the tragic incident that resulted in over 40 deaths. Victims' families are actively seeking the truth as questioning intensifies, highlighting the need for accountability.
Swiss bar owner Jacques Moretti was questioned by lawyers acting for victims' families on Wednesday, over the New Year's Day fire disaster in Crans-Montana that left 41 people dead and 115 injured.
He arrived for the hearing in Sion with his wife, Jessica, whose lawyer Yaël Hayat described the latest hearings as moments of truth. Jessica Moretti faces questions on Thursday.
Ahead of the hearing, one mother told Swiss TV she needed to know what had gone wrong and why.
What's important is that the whole truth comes out, said Laetitia Brodard-Sitre, whose 16-year-old son Arthur died in the fire.
There must be no more lies, she told public broadcaster SRF. I want everyone to take responsibility; politics and parties don't matter to me.
Jacques and Jessica Moretti are under criminal investigation for involuntary manslaughter, bodily harm, and arson through negligence. Neither is being held in custody; Mr. Moretti was released on bail last month.
The couple have been criticized by several former employees for safety failings, including the use of sparkling candles in champagne bottles which have been blamed for igniting the ceiling. Concerns have been raised over a lack of fire inspections at the venue since 2019, with testimony revealing multiple safety oversights.
Many of the fire's victims were teenagers, and a locked service door exacerbated the situation as the fire broke out early on New Year's Day. The emotional toll and quest for accountability continue as families seek answers in the wake of this tragedy.
