Swiss bar owners facing jail over a New Year’s Eve inferno that killed 40 people accused a young waitress of starting the fire and blocking an escape route, a leaked police interview reveals.
Jacques Moretti, 49, and his wife Jessica Moretti, 40, are under judicial supervision following the deadly fire at Le Constellation in Crans-Montana during January 1 celebrations.
According to leaked transcripts of the interrogation seen by Le Parisien, French prosecutors repeatedly told prosecutors: “It’s not us, it’s the others.
During about 20 hours of questioning by three prosecutors, the couple allegedly blamed waitress Cyane Panine, 24, who died in the fire.
They claimed Cyane climbed onto a colleague’s shoulders and brandished two bottles of champagne with lit sparklers – a stunt filmed at night.
She was wearing an advertising helmet and did not see the sparks ignite the basement ceiling, which was lined with highly flammable foam, according to investigators.
Read more about the horror fire
OUR AGONY
The waitress “who set the bar on fire” wasn’t supposed to be working when the parents spoke
BAD DISASTER
Swiss bar owner “MADE waitress wears helmet to prevent her from seeing sparks”
Referring to the stunt, Jacques Moretti said it was “Cyane’s show”.
“I didn’t stop her from doing it,” he said.
“I didn’t make her pay attention to the safety instructions. We didn’t see the danger. Cyane loved doing it – it was a show, she loved being part of the show.”
Jessica Moretti reiterated that claim at the Jan. 20 hearing.
“Cyane loved delivering these bottles – she did it of her own free will,” she said.
“If I thought there was the slightest risk, I would have banned it. In ten years of business, I never thought there could be any danger.”
The waitress’s family and surviving witnesses strongly denied the allegations.
They say Jessica Moretti, the night manager, sent Cyane outside with bottles and encouraged the stunt with a helmet supplied by Dom Pérignon.
Cyane’s parents Jerome and Astrid Panine also previously revealed that their daughter should never have worked at the place where she died.
The official report states that the black visor of the helmet covered Cyane’s face completely, meaning she could not see the sparklers “touching the ceiling”.
Regarding fire safety, Jacques Moretti admitted: “There was no training, but the staff were told what steps to take in the event of a fire when they were shown around the premises.
“Evacuate the customers, sound the alarm and call the fire department. And of course, if they had time, use the fire extinguishers to put out the fire.”
When one worker was told he had no idea where the fire extinguishers were kept, he replied: “The staff have multiple shifts and I may have forgotten to give that information… I may have forgotten.”
The couple also blamed an unnamed employee for allegedly locking the basement emergency exit.
Cyane was among those who died of smoke inhalation behind the door after it was finally forced open.
“The door was always open,” insisted Jessica Moretti.
“There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t wonder why that door was closed that night.
Jacques Moretti added: “After the tragedy, we learned that an employee had delivered ice cubes to the Constellation and, without understanding why, had closed the latch at the top of the door.”
He later told the SMS worker, “You shouldn’t run away, you should stay here and take responsibility.”
The employee denied any wrongdoing and said: “I did not close the door which was already locked.
Moretti also claimed that the flammable foam installed during the 2015 renovations was approved by fire officials and acoustic experts.
The footage is said to show Jessica Moretti fleeing the burning scene with a cash register under her arm while the victims lay inside.
Cyane loved delivering these bottles – she did it of her own free will
Jessica Moretti,
She told investigators: “I accept what’s being said about us, even if it’s false. It’s nothing compared to what the families are going through.”
Asked about the minor victims, including a 14-year-old boy, Jessica Moretti said: “We’re not infallible… Maybe there were fake IDs. Maybe some slipped through the security net.”
The couple also highlighted their own suffering, with Jacques Moretti telling prosecutors: “We are also victims, but not to the same degree. Losing a child is the worst thing that can happen.”
Both are facing trial for negligent homicide, negligent wounding and negligent arson causing more than 40 deaths and serious burns to more than 100 others.
They deny all criminal and civil wrongdoing.
Swiss authorities consider Morettis a flight risk.
They were allowed to stay at home with their two children under strict conditions, including electronic tags, confiscated passports and mandatory police checks every three days.
The investigation into the fire is ongoing.
Leave a Reply