Swiss deadly fire bar owners’ lawyers condemn ‘vindictiveness’
Lawyers of the owners of the bar in Switzerland, where the deadly fire broke out on New Year’s Eve, killing 40 people and injuring 116 people, broke their silence to criticize the “lies” about their clients.
Lawyers told local media Jessica and Jacques Moretti were “devastated” but denied they were aware of any danger in their location.
“There is a kind of resentment in the public against them,” said Yaël Hayat, one of the three lawyers.
Preliminary findings from the investigation indicate that the fire started when sparklers stuck in champagne bottles ignited soundproofing foam covering the basement ceiling of Le Constellation bar in the popular ski resort of Crans-Montana.
Authorities acknowledged that the bar had not been inspected for five years.
Most of those killed in the fire were young; eight were under the age of 16, and many were treated in hospital for serious burns.
Since the fire, many stories have appeared in the local media about the couple, the place they manage and their past, increasing the pressure on the authorities who investigated the accident and filed a lawsuit against the owners.
In an interview with Tribune de Geneve, lawyers said the couple wanted to “reveal the truth”.
Hayat said that the news that his client Jessica left the burning building with the money in the safe was false. I tell BFMTV: “He in no way left the scene in a hurry; he remained there to assist and support the injured.”
Patrick Michod, representing Jacques Moretti, said: “When you run a business and a tragedy like this happens you feel responsible. Now, the most important question in this case is the question of criminal liability, which is clearly not the same as the feelings one might feel as a business owner.”
Asked about the foam in the ceiling, Michod said his customer bought the material from a “major construction retailer” but did not disclose that it was flammable.
“He didn’t want to lay highly flammable foam. He wanted to lay acoustic foam,” he said.
Lawyers representing the family of Le Constellation employee Cyane Panine, who died in the fire, said: had received no safety training and was unaware of the danger posed by a flaming ceiling.
Hayat, who described Panine as a close friend of the couple, took out a postcard to the Morettis that he said he wrote. Tribune de Geneve reported.
“I hope I continue to grow with you and we spend many more New Year’s Eves together. […] “You are like my second family,” the postcard read.
The Moretti couple are accused by authorities of involuntary manslaughter due to negligence, causing bodily harm due to negligence and arson due to negligence.
Last week, a Swiss court imposed a travel ban on Jessica Moretti as an alternative to pre-trial detention. He had to surrender his passport and report to the police every day.
He had previously told reporters he was sorry for the “unthinkable tragedy”.
Jacques Moretti will initially be detained for 90 days. Prosecutors also argued the couple were a flight risk and asked judges to impose bail of 400,000 francs ($500,000; £374,000) as a condition of release, with 200,000 francs for each.
Michod said he requested the release of Jacques Moretti.
