Text Messages Reveal Fire Risk Awareness by Owners

Lawyers representing victims of the tragic New Year's Eve fire at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana have formally requested prosecutors elevate the charges against the establishment's owners. The owners, Jessica and Jacques Moretti, currently face charges including manslaughter and arson by negligence. This move comes after the discovery of text messages from 2019, reportedly sent by Jessica Moretti, which indicated awareness of the fire risk posed by the bar's sound-insulating foam.

These messages, presented to investigators, suggest the Morettis knew the bar could catch fire and accepted the potential consequences. Victims' lawyers argue this demonstrates "possible intent" under Swiss law, warranting a murder charge rather than negligence. The owners' legal team has refuted these claims, calling them "nonsense" and asserting Jessica Moretti's presence at the scene on the night of the tragedy as an alibi.

Additionally, Jessica Moretti was informed during a recent hearing about a new charge of forgery concerning an invoice for the acoustic foam panels from 2015. Her lawyers stated this was a mere accounting entry and irrelevant to the case. The fire, believed to have started from sparklers igniting the foam, killed 41 people and injured 115.