Swiss Bar Fire: Owners Confronted by Victims’ Families in Heated Exchange
– A tense and emotional scene unfolded Wednesday in Sion, Switzerland, as the owners of the Le Constellation bar, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, attended a hearing regarding the New Year’s Day fire that claimed 41 lives and injured 115 others. Just minutes before Jessica Moretti was scheduled to be questioned, a confrontation erupted between the Morettis and a small group of family members of the victims.
The Morettis arrived at the courthouse escorted by police and accompanied by their legal counsel. However, the situation quickly escalated as the families, reportedly numbering less than ten, rushed towards the couple, according to reports from the Italian news agency ANSA.
The confrontation involved pushing, shouting, and direct accusations. A particularly poignant exchange occurred between one mother and Jacques Moretti. “You are the mafia, you paid 200,000 francs and it’s over!” the woman reportedly shouted. Moretti responded, “No, there is no mafia, I am a worker.” The mother, overcome with grief, continued, “Where is my son? How do you sleep? How do you eat? How do you breathe? Where is my son?” Moretti replied, “I am sorry, I am sorry, we will take our responsibilities, we are here for justice.”
The hearing comes after a national day of mourning was observed in Switzerland on January 9th, and a memorial ceremony attended by top European officials was held near Crans-Montana, the Alpine ski resort where the tragedy occurred. The fire at Le Constellation, a popular New Year’s Eve destination, has sparked widespread grief and anger, with calls for a thorough investigation and accountability.
Jacques Moretti was previously taken into custody on January 9th, but was released on bail last month, according to reporting from the Associated Press. Both Jacques and Jessica Moretti are currently under criminal investigation for involuntary manslaughter, bodily harm, and arson through negligence.
The families of the victims have expressed frustration with the pace of the investigation, with lawyers representing them stating investigators are not moving fast enough, as reported by The Guardian. Sébastien Fanti, a lawyer for the victims’ families, described a private encounter between Leila Micheloud, the mother of two injured daughters, and the Morettis as “an extremely intense moment and rare in its humanity,” but did not disclose the details of their conversation, according to the BBC.
Micheloud spoke to reporters outside the hearing, emphasizing that the victims are “not just names on a list but they too had faces.” Her daughter, Farah, remains hospitalized with burns covering over 35% of her body. Another mother, Laetitia Brodard-Sitre, who lost her 16-year-old son Arthur in the fire, stated, “There must be no more lies. I want everyone to take responsibility. politics and parties don’t matter to me.”
The investigation continues as the community grapples with the aftermath of the devastating fire and seeks answers and justice for those affected. The hearing in Sion represents a critical step in the legal process, and the emotional confrontation underscores the profound pain and anger felt by the families of the victims.
