Managers of Crans-Montana Bar Investigated After Deadly Fire

Swiss authorities have placed two managers of Le Constellation, a bar in Crans-Montana, under criminal investigation after a fire that killed at least 40 people, police said.

The probe, opened Friday night by police in the Valais canton, cites suspicions of negligent homicide, negligent bodily harm and causing a fire by negligence. The police statement did not name the managers or detail the evidence that prompted the inquiry.

Public records identify the bar’s owners as Jacques and Jessica Moretti, who opened Le Constellation in 2015. The Morettis had not responded to requests for comment from The New York Times; in brief interviews with Swiss media this week they said they were cooperating with investigators and denied wrongdoing. "We can neither sleep nor eat; we are all in a terrible state," Mr. Moretti told 20minutes.ch.

The Valais police noted that "the presumption of innocence applies until a final conviction is handed down."

Swiss authorities have described the blaze as one of the country’s worst tragedies. Many victims were severely burned, making identification difficult; police said they had identified four more victims, all Swiss citizens aged 16 to 21.

Beatrice Pilloud, the prosecutor general of Valais, said investigators believe the fire was likely started when finger-size fireworks placed on champagne bottles sent up sparks that ignited foam insulation on the basement ceiling.

Key Topics

World, Le Constellation, Crans-montana, Valais, Jacques Moretti, Jessica Moretti