Co-owner of Swiss ski resort bar hit by deadly New Year party fire held in custody

A Swiss ski resort bar owner and his wife have been held in custody amid the investigation into a deadly New Year's party fire that killed 40 people, mostly teenagers. The pair, Jacques Moretti and Jessica Moretti, face charges related to manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm by negligence, and arson by negligence.

The tragedy occurred on New Year's Eve at Le Constellation bar in Crans-Montana, a popular ski resort town in the Swiss Alps. Prosecutors say they were questioning the couple in Switzerland's southwestern canton of Valais as part of their inquiry into the disaster. The investigation had been ongoing for eight days, with many families still desperately seeking information about their missing loved ones.

The victims, mostly in their teens and early twenties, were killed in a fire that broke out at the bar during celebrations. The cause of the blaze is not yet known. As part of the national day of mourning, thousands of people gathered outside the bar to pay tribute to the victims, many of whom had traveled from across Europe.

Among those who attended was Azeddine Mekrabech, a 30-year-old from France who came from Lyon specifically to mark the occasion in Crans-Montana. He said he felt compelled to make the gesture after realizing how easily he could have been trapped at a party like the one that occurred on New Year's Eve.

The tragedy has sparked widespread grief and outrage across Europe, with several heads of state attending a national memorial ceremony at the Congress Center in Crans-Montana. Many people gathered outside the bar, where flowers and candles had been lit in memory of the victims.

The couple were interviewed by prosecutors as part of their investigation into the disaster. Jacques Moretti was held in custody, while his wife Jessica was allowed to remain free under judicial supervision.

The charges against the couple are related to their alleged negligence in preventing or mitigating the fire.

I'm not buying all the sympathy for this bar owner and his wife. The fact is, they're being held accountable for a tragedy that killed 40 people, most of whom were minors. Their negligence didn't just lead to the fire, it also meant that those who were trapped inside had zero chance of escape . I'm not saying they should get off scot-free, but the severity of their charges seems excessive to me. What's next? Will we start arresting people for having a faulty extension cord in their house? The more I think about it, the more I wonder if this is just a case of 'the man' getting what's coming to him .

Ugh man I'm still thinking about that party last year at that bar in Switzerland it's crazy how a night out can turn into a nightmare like that Remember when we used to go to those all-night raves back in college and stuff always seemed so carefree now it's just a whole different world, you know? I mean, 40 people losing their lives is insane it makes me wanna stay home and watch old VHS tapes or something. The fact that this bar owner and his wife are getting charged for negligence just highlights how reckless some of these places can be. Anyway, at least we're having a national day of mourning in Europe so maybe it's a good time to reflect on the things we've lost, like our innocence, I guess

Ugh I just can't even right now thinking about all those young lives lost in that tragic fire It's just heartbreaking, you know? And the owners of that bar are now facing charges because they're allegedly neglectful? That's just not right . I mean, I'm sure there was an investigation and everything, but it feels like these people are being scapegoated for a tragedy that's much bigger than just them.

And what really gets me is how the whole European community came together to pay their respects to the victims. It's amazing to see so many people showing compassion and kindness in times of grief . But at the same time, it makes me wonder if anyone will take responsibility for making sure something like this never happens again? I hope those owners are held accountable, but let's not forget that we all have a role to play in preventing such tragedies in the future

I mean, can you believe a bar on New Year's Eve that's like a death wish? Like, what's next, a casino on the moon?! 40 people dead and these two are getting charged with manslaughter by negligence... it's just crazy! I'm no expert but if they were so careless with fire safety, shouldn't they've at least had a good excuse for why it all went wrong? Maybe like "the fire was possessed"? Anyway, I hope the victims' families get some closure and justice soon. It's just heartbreaking to think about those poor teens who were celebrating life and ended up losing it in an instant .

The whole situation is still so mind-blowing... 40 people dead and no one's taking responsibility? Like, I get that accidents happen, but how hard can it be to prevent a fire from spreading at a bar party?! They're not just blaming the victims' families, they're also holding the owners accountable. It's like, basic safety protocols... come on! And what really gets me is that Jacques and Jessica were being questioned for 8 whole days before they got arrested? That's a long time to be investigating someone without any concrete evidence... it just doesn't feel right.

man this is a really sad thing that happened in switzerland i feel so bad for all those families who lost loved ones, it's just devastating 40 people gone in one night is just crazy... but you know what's even crazier? how some of the ppl were able to make it out alive! like azeddine from france who made the effort to come pay his respects that shows so much love and care for others. i hope these charges are looked at fairly and justice is served

I'm still trying to process what happened at that ski resort bar . 40 young lives lost, it's just heartbreaking . I can only imagine how devastated the families must be feeling right now... my heart goes out to them . How could someone not prioritize fire safety when hosting a party? It seems like a huge oversight, especially considering all the measures they should've taken . The fact that it took eight days for the investigation to wrap up is just frustrating... can't we be more proactive in getting answers?

Ugh, this is like something out of a bad dream ... A whole New Year's party turns into a funeral, and it all comes down to some ski resort bar owners being too chill . I mean, I get that they're under a lot of pressure, but 40 people dead? That's just crazy! The investigation is still ongoing, but it seems like the cops are pretty sure these two were in charge and didn't do enough to stop the fire .

I'm not condoning whatever happened here, but come on, can't we all just be more careful with our own lives and the people around us? It's like, don't go to a party if you're going to make a giant fireworks display without making sure there are emergency exits . I know it sounds harsh, but it's hard not to think that this whole thing could have been prevented.

The whole national day of mourning thing is really sad, though. Thousands of people showing up to pay their respects... it's just heartbreaking . And the fact that these two are being held accountable for it? That's what I'm here for, to talk about the good and the bad .

man... this is just heartbreaking ... 40 lives lost and now these two ppl are being held accountable? I mean, I get it, they gotta face justice, but this feels like a lot of pressure on them. And what about all those ppl who were there that night? They're still grieving and trying to process what happened. It's just not right.

And the thing is, we don't even know if anyone was truly negligent here... maybe it was an accident, or something got outta control and no one could've stopped it? I'm not saying the owners are innocent or anything, but come on, let's not jump to conclusions. We gotta give them a chance to tell their side of the story.

It's just so sad that this happened at all... 40 young people lost their lives on a night that was supposed to be celebratory . And now we're stuck with this mess. I hope they can find justice for everyone involved, but also for those families who are still waiting for answers.

u know what's wild, a whole bar full of people just chillin' and partying, and then BAM! You got a fire that takes 40 lives it's like, what were they thinking?! I mean, I'm no expert, but shouldn't there be some basic safety measures in place at a crowded venue like that? like, how did this even happen?! the investigation is still ongoing, so we'll have to wait and see if justice is served

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this tragic event. The thought of a party going up in flames and killing so many innocent people is just heartbreaking . It's like, how could something like that happen? You'd think that a bar would have better safety measures in place .

But I guess that's what the investigation is for - to find out if the owners were truly negligent or just caught off guard by the disaster . It's not looking good for them, though... 40 people lost their lives and it's hard to imagine a more devastating outcome .

I feel bad for all the families who are still searching for answers about what happened to their loved ones . The fact that some of those families traveled from across Europe just to pay tribute to the victims is really powerful and emotional . It's clear that this tragedy has left a deep impact on many people, and I hope justice is served soon .

This whole situation is just so heartbreaking... 40 people lost their lives and it's just devastating. I mean, can you even imagine how scared everyone must have been that night? The fact that a bar owner and his wife are being held accountable for this tragedy is just so frustrating. It feels like they're being scapegoated for something that might not be entirely their fault.

I'm also kinda curious about how the investigation is going on... I mean, have they found out what actually caused the fire? Was it really just negligence or was there something more to it? And what does "arson by negligence" even mean? It sounds like a whole lot of legal mumbo-jumbo.

And can we talk about the reaction from the community for a second? Thousands of people showing up to pay tribute to the victims is amazing, but it's also kinda overwhelming and stressful for everyone involved. I feel bad for the families who are still waiting for answers and closure.

It's just so sad that something like this has to happen in a place that's supposed to be fun and welcoming... Crans-Montana was always supposed to be a winter wonderland, not a scene of tragedy.