Swiss Bar Fire Probe Deepens After Owner Admits Exit Was Locked

Swiss Bar Fire Probe Deepens After Owner Admits Exit Was Locked

Investigators probing the deadly New Year’s Eve fire at a Swiss ski resort bar have uncovered a critical new detail that could dramatically escalate charges against the owners.

Jacques Moretti, co-owner of the Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, has admitted to authorities that a basement service door — used by patrons attempting to flee the blaze — was locked from the inside. The fire killed 40 people after breaking out during New Year’s Eve celebrations.

According to Swiss broadcaster RTS, Moretti told investigators he opened the door from the outside and found multiple lifeless bodies behind it. Several victims are believed to have become trapped while trying to escape through the locked exit as smoke and flames spread through the venue.

Moretti has claimed he does not know why the door was locked. However, prosecutors say the revelation is of central importance to the case and could significantly worsen the legal exposure facing Jacques Moretti and his co-owner, Jessica Moretti.

The pair are currently charged with involuntary manslaughter, negligent arson, and negligent bodily harm. If prosecutors determine the owners knew the door was locked — or accepted the risk that it might be — the case could be reclassified as murder with contingent intent under Swiss law, a charge carrying a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison.

Investigators are also examining another potentially damning detail: the acoustic soundproofing foam installed in the bar’s ceiling. Moretti said he replaced old foam with new material purchased from a Hornbach DIY store. Swiss media reports suggest bar staff were aware the foam posed a serious fire risk.

One waiter is alleged to have warned customers on the night of the fire about the danger of igniting the ceiling’s soundproofing material. Prosecutors are now working to verify that claim. If confirmed, it could further strengthen the case that the owners were aware of hazardous conditions inside the bar.

The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities focusing on whether safety failures — including the locked exit and flammable materials — directly contributed to the high death toll in one of Switzerland’s deadliest nightclub fires in decades.

Key Takeaways

1. Locked Escape Route Central To Case
   Victims trying to flee the fire were trapped behind a basement door locked from the inside.

2. Charges Could Escalate Sharply
   Prosecutors may pursue murder with contingent intent, carrying penalties of up to 20 years.

3. Fire Safety Failures Under Scrutiny
   Investigators are probing flammable ceiling foam and claims staff knew the risks.

SOURCE: EURO NEWS