New details have emerged in the investigation of the devastating fire at the Le Constellation bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana, which killed 40 people on New Year’s Eve. Authorities have revealed that a service door in the basement was locked from the inside.
Bar owner Jacques Moretti has admitted this to investigators, telling them he found several lifeless bodies when he opened the door from the outside. The public prosecutor’s office is now examining the implications of this revelation.
Charges against the Morettis could increase
Several guests reportedly tried to escape through the locked service door during the fire but were trapped and ultimately lost their lives. Moretti claims he did not know why the door was locked. If prosecutors determine that Jacques and Jessica Moretti were partly responsible for the locked door, they could face more serious charges.
At present, the couple is charged with involuntary manslaughter, negligent arson and negligent bodily harm.
Possible charges of conditional intent
If investigators conclude that the Morettis knew the door was locked and accepted the risk, the court could rule that the deaths amounted to murder with conditional intent. In that case, Jacques and Jessica Moretti could face up to 20 years in prison.
Additional safety concerns
The investigation has also focused on the acoustic foam used on the bar’s ceiling. Jacques Moretti stated that he had removed the old foam and replaced it with a new one purchased from a Hornbach DIY store. Swiss media report that staff were aware of the risks associated with this type of foam.
On New Year’s Eve 2019, a waiter is said to have warned guests about the risk of the foam catching fire. Prosecutors are currently investigating whether this claim is accurate. If confirmed, it could lead to further charges against the Morettis.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is set to attend Supreme Court oral arguments this week in a case examining whether President Donald Trump has the...
At the World Economic Forum’s “Defining Eurasia’s Economic Identity” panel on 20 January 2026, leaders from Azerbaijan, Armenia and Serbia dis...
The European Parliament has frozen the ratification of a trade agreement with the United States after fresh tariff threats from Donald Trump, escalati...
On 20 January, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev gave an exclusive interview to Euronews during the World Economic Forum 2026 in Da...
One year into his return to the White House, President Donald Trump has used tariffs, military operations and immigration crackdowns to drive an expan...
Russia’s liquefied natural gas transit through Azerbaijan is emerging as a strategically significant development for Armenia at a time of rising domestic pressure on energy supplies, according to political analyst Fuad Karimli.Speaking to AnewZ, Karimli said the issue has gained urgency as Armenia f
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is set to attend Supreme Court oral arguments this week in a case examining whether President Donald Trump has the authority to remove a sitting Federal Reserve governor.
At the World Economic Forum’s “Defining Eurasia’s Economic Identity” panel on 20 January 2026, leaders from Azerbaijan, Armenia and Serbia discussed how the South Caucasus and wider Eurasian region can strengthen economic ties, peace and geopolitical stability amid shifting global influence.
On 20 January, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev gave an exclusive interview to Euronews during the World Economic Forum 2026 in Davos, reflecting on Azerbaijan’s strategy in a changing global order and the country’s evolving role in the South Caucasus and global energy markets.
Italian fashion designer Valentino Garavani has died at the age of 93, his foundation said on Monday.
More than 100 vehicles were involved in a massive pileup on Interstate 96 in western Michigan on Monday (19 January), forcing the highway to shut in both directions amid severe winter weather.
The European Parliament has frozen the ratification of a trade agreement with the United States after fresh tariff threats from Donald Trump, escalating tensions between Washington and Brussels.
Five skiers were killed in a pair of avalanches in Austria’s western Alpine regions on Saturday, with two others injured, one critically.
A fresh consignment of precision-guided munitions has departed from the Indian city of Nagpur bound for Yerevan, marking the latest phase in the rapidly expanding defence partnership between India and Armenia.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is set to attend Supreme Court oral arguments this week in a case examining whether President Donald Trump has the authority to remove a sitting Federal Reserve governor.
One year into his return to the White House, President Donald Trump has used tariffs, military operations and immigration crackdowns to drive an expansive vision of U.S. power that is generating strong resistance abroad and sharpening political divides at home.
There was a common theme in speeches at the World Economic Forum on Tuesday (20 January). China’s Vice-Premier, He Lifeng, warned that "tariffs and trade wars have no winners," while France's Emmanuel Macron, labelled "endless accumulation of new tariffs" from the U.S. "fundamentally unacceptable."
Moldova's government in Chisinau has initiated the final legal steps to sever its institutional ties with Moscow’s post-Soviet alliance, marking a decisive moment in the small Eastern European nation’s pivot towards the West.
Russia launched a combined drone and missile attack on Ukraine early on Tuesday, knocking out power and heating supplies to thousands of apartment buildings in Kyiv, Ukrainian officials said.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment