A Swiss court has ordered that the owner of a nightclub where 40 people died in a devastating New Year's fire must remain in custody for at least the next three months.
Court Rules Owner a Flight Risk
Jacques Moretti, 49, appeared before a court in Sion today, where judges ruled he should stay in pre-trial detention until at least March. Prosecutors successfully argued that Mr Moretti, described in court as a former pimp and serial offender, presents a serious flight risk. He was initially taken into custody on Friday.
Mr Moretti and his wife and business partner, Jessica Moretti, 40, face multiple charges in connection with the blaze at Le Constellation in the ski resort of Crans-Montana. The charges include manslaughter by negligence, causing bodily harm negligently, and negligent arson.
Narrowed Staircase a 'Decisive' Factor in Tragedy
New and harrowing details from the investigation reveal that the club's altered layout played a catastrophic role. Investigators have determined that 34 of the 40 victims perished on a single staircase leading from the basement. This accounts for 85 per cent of the fatalities.
The fire is believed to have started when sparklers used in champagne bottles ignited sound-proofing foam fixed to the basement ceiling. In the ensuing panic, patrons rushed to the stairwell to escape.
Mr Moretti has admitted that after taking over the venue in 2015, he personally reduced the width of that crucial staircase from three metres to just one metre. It is unclear if this work had official approval. Multiple enquiry sources have stated this alteration "played a decisive role in the disaster".
The stairwell could not withstand the pressure of the crowd desperately trying to flee. The structure eventually collapsed, with wooden steps and handrails detaching from the walls, trapping victims below.
Further Safety Failures Revealed
During questioning, Mr Moretti disclosed further critical safety lapses. He confirmed there was no sprinkler system installed at Le Constellation and no fire extinguishers on the premises. When asked if staff had received any fire safety training, he simply replied: "No".
He also acknowledged that a ground-floor service door was locked from the inside when the fire broke out. Mr Moretti claims he forced it open upon arriving at the scene, finding people inside who had succumbed to smoke inhalation.
Meanwhile, his wife, Jessica Moretti, is reported to have driven home with the night's cash takings minutes after the fire started. She has been released on bail and is wearing an electronic monitoring bracelet. The French national couple, who are from Corsica, deny any civil or criminal wrongdoing.
The investigation into the fire, which also left 116 people with severe burns, continues.
