A hearing for Jessica Moretti, owner of a bar where 41 died in a fire, was canceled due to her psychological fragility, as Swiss prosecutors postponed the case.
Hearing canceled due to psychological concerns
The confrontation hearing between Jessica Moretti and Swiss prosecutors has been canceled. The hearing was originally set for Monday, November 2, but Swiss prosecutors decided to postpone it, as reported by BFMTV on Sunday, November 1. This decision was based on a "psychotherapeutic certificate" from Jessica Moretti's lawyers, which highlights her psychological fragility since the fire and a recent domestic violence incident.Domestic violence led to hospitalization
In August of last year, Jacques Moretti was arrested and placed in provisional detention over allegations of domestic violence. According to reports from RMC and BFMTV, this violence required Jessica Moretti to be hospitalized. Her lawyers stated in a letter that she was prepared to answer questions from the justice system on Monday, but with "some accommodations." The justice system ultimately decided to delay the hearing, and only Jacques Moretti will now be heard.Investigation targets multiple parties
The investigation focuses on the responsibility of both the municipal authorities and the Moretti couple. As the criminal investigation progressed, indictments were issued against 17 individuals, including the Morettis, eight elected or former elected officials from the municipality—such as Nicolas Féraud, president of Crans-Montana—and seven municipal employees or former employees. All are being prosecuted for "negligent homicide, bodily injuries by negligence, and negligent fire."Safety failures admitted by officials
Shortly after the fire, local officials acknowledged that the bar had not undergone any safety or fire inspections since 2019. Investigators are still trying to determine whether higher-level officials were aware of these failures, whether they took corrective actions, and whether the resources provided met legal fire inspection requirements. They are particularly examining whether the emergency exits and ground-floor access points were properly maintained and whether the acoustic insulation foam used in the basement was legally compliant, as it quickly ignited when exposed to sparking candles.
