The family’s legal representative asserts that a bar employee, believed to have accidentally started a fatal fire in Switzerland on New Year’s, did not receive any safety training. Cyane Panine, one of the casualties in the fire that claimed 40 lives, was reportedly uninformed about the fire risk posed by the ignited ceiling.
The French proprietors of Le Constellation bar, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, are facing accusations of manslaughter, bodily harm, and arson due to negligence from the authorities. Besides the fatalities, 116 individuals suffered injuries in the fire at the ski resort in Crans-Montana.
Sophie Haenni, the legal counsel for Panine’s family, disclosed that the bar worker was not assigned to serve tables on the night of the incident but was requested to assist with the high demand. Haenni highlighted the lack of safety training and awareness of the hazardous conditions for Panine.
Haenni emphasized that adherence to safety protocols and proper inspections could have prevented the tragedy, stating that Cyane was a victim of the situation. The family’s legal statement also mentioned Panine feeling exploited and distressed by her work environment.
The lawyers representing Panine’s family expressed their clients’ grief over the loss of their beloved family member due to the unfortunate incident. In response to the allegations, lawyers for Jacques and Jessica Moretti were contacted by the BBC for their comments.
Following the incident, a Swiss court imposed a travel ban on Jessica Moretti as an alternative to pre-trial detention, while Jacques Moretti remains in custody for a 90-day period. Initial investigations suggest that the fire was triggered by sparklers igniting the soundproof foaming material lining the ceiling.
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