Bereaved relatives confronted the owners of a Swiss bar where a New Year’s fire killed 41, demanding justice as the couple faced a criminal hearing.
SION: Bereaved relatives angrily confronted the owners of a Swiss bar that caught fire during New Year celebrations. The French couple, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, were heckled as they arrived for a hearing over the fatal tragedy in Crans-Montana.
Ten or so relatives waited outside the venue in Sion for the owners of Le Constellation. The bar caught fire in the early hours of January 1, killing 41 people, mostly teenagers, and injuring 115 others.
Prosecutors believe the fire started when champagne bottles with sparklers were raised too close to the ceiling. This ignited sound insulation foam in the bar’s basement level.
Gulcin Kaya, the mother of an 18-year-old victim, shouted at the owners, “Where is my son? Where is he?” Jacques Moretti replied, “We will take responsibility, we will face up to it, we promise you, we are here for justice.”
Fourteen-year-old Tobyas, brother of 17-year-old victim Trystan Pidoux, shouted at Jessica Moretti, “You killed my big brother, you bitch, do you understand!” He told reporters he wanted her to see how she destroyed families.
The boys’ father, Christian Pidoux, wore a t-shirt bearing his son’s picture. “We’re doing this so that it never happens again,” he told reporters. He described how some victims had melted in the intense heat.
Samhare Saleh, a friend of the family, said, “We demand justice, we demand the truth for all those children who have died.” Many injured victims remain hospitalised in Switzerland and abroad.
The Morettis face charges of manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm by negligence and arson by negligence. Two local safety officials are also under criminal investigation.
Lawyer Romain Jordan, representing several families, called for “dignity, serenity and respect”. He said the deputy public prosecutor had appealed for calm during the proceedings.
Victim Trystan Pidoux’s mother, Vinciane Stucky, attended the hearing. She said Jacques Moretti tried to ask for forgiveness, but she told him to look at the floor instead.
Another mother, Leila Micheloud, met the Morettis briefly on Wednesday. She stated on Facebook, “There was no forgiveness… I do not forgive them, I listened to them and that’s where it stops.”
Lawyer Alain Viscolo said the investigation must now consider the role of local authorities. He confirmed a complaint had been filed against the president of the Crans-Montana commune.
