Lawyers for Jessica and Jacques Moretti have issued their first coordinated response since the New Year’s Eve fire at Le Constellation, rejecting what they describe as inaccurate reporting and insisting the pair were unaware of any specific hazard at the venue. They said the public commentary had become punitive and that their clients intend to cooperate fully with investigators. Forty people died and 116 were injured in the Crans‑Montana blaze, many of them teenagers and young adults, according to police updates reported by major outlets. (swissinfo.ch)
Early investigative findings focus on the basement party room, where sparklers attached to champagne bottles are believed to have ignited ceiling soundproofing material, causing a rapid flashover. Authorities have cautioned that the precise ignition sequence remains under review, but this working hypothesis is guiding forensic work on materials and pyrotechnics used on the night. (theguardian.com)
Local officials have acknowledged that periodic safety inspections at Le Constellation lapsed for years. The president of the Crans‑Montana council said no municipal checks were carried out between 2020 and 2025, a failure he “bitterly” regretted. The municipality has since announced a ban on indoor fireworks and plans to commission external agencies for future inspections in similar premises. (theguardian.com)
Prosecutors in Valais have opened a criminal case against the Morettis on suspicion of negligent homicide, negligent bodily harm and negligent arson. On 12 January 2026, the Tribunal des mesures de contrainte ordered an initial three months’ pre‑trial detention for Jacques Moretti on flight‑risk grounds. On 13 January, the same court imposed substitution measures on Jessica Moretti, including a travel ban, surrender of identity documents, daily police reporting and sureties to be fixed. (fr.euronews.com)
Counsel for the owners argued that some assertions circulating in the media are false or misleading. They said a door discussed publicly as an “emergency exit” was in fact a service door at ground level, and that acoustic foam installed years earlier was purchased from a DIY chain without any flammability warning. The legal team said their clients seek to “restore the truth” and will answer investigators’ questions. (swissinfo.ch)
Relatives of staff member Cyane Panine, who died in the blaze, have stated through their lawyer that she received no fire‑safety training and was not aware of the risk posed by the ceiling material. They reject portrayals of a familial relationship with the owners and say she had previously raised concerns about her working conditions. These claims form part of wider scrutiny of training standards and employer duties at the bar. (nicematin.com)
Under Swiss criminal law, negligent homicide carries a maximum three‑year custodial sentence or a monetary penalty (Article 117). Negligent bodily harm is generally prosecuted on complaint unless injuries are serious (Article 125). Negligent arson covers causing a fire through negligence that endangers people or creates a public danger (Article 222). These provisions frame the case now before Valais prosecutors. (lawbrary.ch)
Switzerland’s fire‑safety regime is based on the AEAI (AICAA/VKF) Prescriptions de protection incendie 2015, in force nationwide via intercantonal mandate. Those prescriptions set requirements for interior finishes, escape routes and occupancy in premises admitting the public; they are designed to limit fire spread and secure evacuation. Investigators are assessing how the venue’s materials and operations aligned with these standards. (bpuk.ch)
Inspection records cited by officials indicate previous capacity parameters of 100 people at ground level and 100 in the basement, though investigators say the exact crowd size on the night may never be known. Separately, transcripts reported in Swiss and French media say the owner told investigators a service door at street level was found locked from the inside; prosecutors will determine whether that door’s status had legal significance for evacuation. (cbsnews.com)
Beyond Switzerland, French authorities have opened a “mirror” investigation in Paris to support French victims’ families and coordinate with Swiss prosecutors. Italian officials have also been engaged, reflecting the multinational profile of those killed and injured. These steps underline that accountability and victim support will span jurisdictions alongside the primary Swiss inquiry. (leparisien.fr)
Next decisions will centre on bail conditions requested by prosecutors-200,000 Swiss francs each for the two co‑owners-alongside continuing forensic analysis of materials, training records and venue operations. Whatever the individual liabilities ultimately determined by the courts, the acknowledged lapse in periodic inspections is already prompting immediate policy changes locally on indoor fireworks and external audit of high‑risk venues. (laliberte.ch)