The owners of the Le Constellation nightclub, Jacques Moretti and Jessica Maric, are officially under investigation by the Swiss authorities. The establishment, located in Crans-Montana, was... destroyed by a fire on New Year's Eve.
The police and prosecutor's office in the Canton of Valais confirmed that the charges include manslaughter, negligent bodily harm, and negligent arson, meaning without intent to kill. No pre-trial detention order was issued against the couple.
Jessica Maric, 40, suffered burns to her arm during the incident. Jacques Moretti was not at the scene at the time of the fire. In his defense, he stated that the establishment had undergone three inspections in the last ten years and operated in accordance with safety regulations.
The investigation is now looking into the technical causes of the fire and compliance with regulations. Experts are analyzing the bar's capacity and recent renovations, such as changes to the dimensions of the stairs and the material of the sound-absorbing panels.
The couple acquired the property in 2015. In a statement released through an employee, the owners declared they were deeply affected by the tragedy, which resulted in the deaths of members of their own staff.
The fire left at least 40 dead and 119 injured and is believed to have started when sparklers, also called volcano candles, placed in champagne bottles, came into contact with the acoustic ceiling of the establishment.
To date, only four victims have been formally identified, all of whom were Swiss nationals. The process of identifying the remaining bodies is complex due to the state of the remains.
Among the injured, 14 are Italian, nine of whom are hospitalized at the Niguarda Hospital in Milan, including a 16-year-old girl who was transferred in serious condition.
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