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The lawyers of the owners of a Swiss bar where a deadly fire broke out on New Year’s Eve killing 40 people and injuring 116 have broken their silence to criticise “lies” about their clients.
Jessica and Jacques Moretti were “devastated”, the lawyers told local media, but denied being aware of any dangers at their venue.
“There is a sort of public vindictiveness directed against them,” one of the three lawyers, Yaël Hayat, said.
Initial findings from the investigation suggest the fire began as sparklers attached to champagne bottles ignited soundproof foaming that lined the ceiling of the basement of Le Constellation bar in the popular ski resort of Crans-Montana.
Authorities have acknowledged that the bar had not undergone safety checks for five years.
Most of the victims of the fire were young – eight were under the age of 16 – and many are being treated in hospital for severe burns.
Many stories about the couple, the venue they managed, as well as their past have circulated in the local media since the fire, increasing pressure on the authorities as they investigate the accident and prosecute the owners.
In an interview with Tribune de Geneve, the lawyers said the couple wanted to “restore the truth”.
Hayat said reports her client Jessica had left the burning building with cash from the register were a lie, telling BFMTV: “In no way did she leave the scene in a hurry; she stayed there to help and support the injured.”
Patrick Michod, representing Jacques Moretti, said: “When you run an establishment and a tragedy like this occurs, you feel responsible. Now, the major question in this case is the question of criminal responsibility, which is obviously not the same thing as the feelings one may have as the operator.”
Asked about the foam in the ceiling, Michod said his client obtained the material from a “major construction retailer” which did not disclose that it was flammable.
“He did not want to install a highly flammable foam. He wanted to install acoustic foam,” he said.
Lawyers representing the family of Cyane Panine, a staff member at Le Constellation who died in the blaze, said she had received no safety training and was unaware of the danger posed by the ceiling that caught fire.
Hayat described Panine as a close friend of the couple, and pulled out a postcard she said had been written by her to the Morettis, Tribune de Geneve reported.
“I hope I will continue to grow alongside you and that we will spend many more New Year’s Eves together […] you are like my second family,” the postcard said.
The Moretti couple have been accused by authorities of manslaughter by negligence, bodily harm by negligence and arson by negligence.
Last week, a Swiss court imposed a travel ban on Jessica Moretti as an alternative to pre-trial detention. She has had to surrender her passport and must report to police every day.
She previously told reporters that she was sorry about the “unthinkable tragedy”.
Jacques Moretti is being held in custody for an initial period of 90 days. Prosecutors have also argued the couple present a flight risk and have asked judges to impose a 400,000-franc bail ($500,000; £374,000)as a condition for their release – 200,000 for each.
Michod said that he had filed a request to release Jacques Moretti.
