The owners of a Swiss bar where a devastating fire killed 40 people on New Year's Day have given their most detailed account, describing how they found a waitress they viewed as a stepdaughter dying "in a pile of bodies" behind a locked door.
A Night of Celebration Turns to Tragedy
Jacques and Jessica Moretti gave evidence to prosecutors in Sion, Switzerland, on Friday, detailing the events at their bar, Le Constellation, in the Alpine ski resort of Crans-Montana. The blaze broke out in the early hours of January 1, leaving 40 dead and a further 116 people severely burned.
Jessica Moretti, 40, said she had encouraged waitress Cyane Panine to "get the atmosphere going" in the bar's basement. This involved waitresses placing sparklers in champagne bottles, with some then being lifted onto the shoulders of waiters.
Investigators believe pyrotechnics ignited soundproofing foam in the ceiling, triggering a fast-moving and deadly fire. Most of the victims were teenagers, including a 14-year-old French boy.
The Desperate Search and a Harrowing Discovery
Jacques Moretti, 49, rushed to the scene after a panicked call from his wife. He described trying to enter the building but being driven back by intense smoke. He eventually forced open a locked service door from the outside.
"When the door opened, several people were lying on the floor, unconscious. My stepdaughter Cyane was one of them," Mr Moretti told prosecutors. He referred to Ms Panine, the girlfriend of a close family friend, as his stepdaughter, saying they had raised the boyfriend "as if he were my own".
He found Ms Panine surrounded by a pile of bodies. She was pulled outside and he, along with her boyfriend, attempted resuscitation for over an hour in the street until emergency services declared it was too late. The French national died within the hour.
Questions Over Safety and Protocol
The couple's testimony raised serious questions about safety measures at the venue. Jacques Moretti admitted the bar had no sprinkler system or fire extinguishers, and staff received no formal fire safety training.
He confirmed the "service door" was found locked from the inside with a latch, contrary to normal practice. The bar's policy prohibited under-16s and required 16–18-year-olds to be accompanied by an adult, but Mr Moretti conceded "it’s possible that there was a lapse in protocol".
While defending the use of champagne sparklers as routine and safe, Mr Moretti insisted tests showed they could not ignite the acoustic foam, suggesting "something else must have been going on". Jessica Moretti said the practice of waitresses being carried with sparklers was not systematic but was not stopped.
The couple are suspected of negligent manslaughter, causing bodily harm negligently, and negligent arson. Jacques Moretti is currently in custody, while his wife has been released on bail with an electronic bracelet. They both deny any criminal or civil wrongdoing.
An investigation into the fire continues, as families of the victims seek answers. Ms Panine's mother, Astrid, said her daughter knew the venue perfectly and headed for the emergency exit, but it was locked.
