The proprietors of a Swiss nightclub, where a devastating fire resulted in the deaths of 40 individuals on New Year’s Eve, have pointed fingers at a waitress, claiming she played a role in igniting the deadly blaze. The waitress, Cyane Panine, 24, was captured on camera with two champagne bottles that were lit during the ill-fated celebration that ultimately took her life.
Jacques Moretti, 49, and his wife Jessica Moretti, 40, were in court last week regarding the incident at Le Constellation nightclub in Crans-Montana. They reportedly told the authorities, "It’s not us, it’s the others," when questioned about their involvement in the eruption of the fire, as reported by the French publication, Le Parisien.
The Morettis are facing serious allegations of homicide, injury, and negligent arson, and they mostly attributed responsibility to their waitress, Cyane Panine.
Jacques Moretti claimed in court that Panine, clad in a black motorcycle helmet, climbed onto a colleague's shoulders while brandishing two bottles of champagne topped with pyrotechnic candles known as "magic fountains."
Jessica Moretti also stated to the prosecutors that Panine had a penchant for delivering the flamboyant bottles herself.
“If I had thought there was even the slightest chance of danger, I would have prohibited it,” Jessica asserted, emphasizing that in her decade-long management experience, she never contemplated such a risk.
However, family members of Panine contended that their daughter was not scheduled to work that night. They claimed that the Morettis had ordered her to assist at the nightclub, having been sent from their restaurant.
Panine’s family disclosed that managers instructed her to remain on the ground floor welcoming guests and assisting them in finding tables with a hefty £900 minimum spend (approximately $1,240).
The deceased reportedly expressed to her family her hardships about overworking without adequate breaks, which left her feeling drained both physically and mentally.
On that fateful night, Jessica Moretti allegedly encouraged Panine to wear the crash helmet and help create an entertaining atmosphere.
Witnesses and Panine’s relatives have categorically denied the Morettis' assertions, arguing that Jessica Moretti, who managed the event that night, was the one who directed Panine to perform the stunt using bottles and a helmet provided by Dom Pérignon.
“I refuse to let my daughter be remembered simply as the girl with the helmet and flares in her hands,” lamented her father, Jerome Panine.
Her mother, Astrid Panine, described Cyane as a trusting individual who unintentionally paid the ultimate price for her naivety.
“Cyane was spontaneous, radiant, and full of heart,” she said, reminiscing about her daughter's inner beauty, which, in her belief, transcended the physical.
In the courtroom, Jacques Moretti acknowledged overlooking fire safety protocols, admitting, “Although there was no specific training, staff were informed about what to do in a fire during walkthroughs of the premises,” according to Le Parisien.
When confronted with the allegation that a staff member was unaware of the fire extinguisher locations, he admitted, “The staff has various shifts, and perhaps I neglected to provide that information… Perhaps I forgot,” as cited by Le Parisien.
Jacques Moretti also brought attention to a locked service door on the ground floor that Panine and six other patrons attempted to escape through during the blaze.
He argued that after the incident, an ice delivery employee inadvertently locked the door’s top latch, not realizing the consequences.
“You should stay and take responsibility rather than run away,” Jacques allegedly messaged the worker.
Counter to his claims, the employee responded, “I didn’t close a door that was already locked.”
Jessica Moretti also reaffirmed that “the door was routinely left open.”
“Not a day passes where I don’t ponder why that door remained shut that night,” she remarked.
Following investigations, it was uncovered that the nightclub's owners renovated the bar in 2015 without notifying local authorities, including the Cantonal Fire Department, as noted by Le Parisien.
The Morettis maintained that the flammable soundproofing foam installed during the renovations, which is suspected to have intensified the fire, had been endorsed by fire safety officials and acoustic specialists.
Since the tragic incident, they have faced immense criticism, particularly after claims surfaced that Jessica Moretti was seen fleeing the burning building with the cash register while victims were still trapped inside.
Jacques Moretti acknowledged the criticism in the courtroom, stating, “I accept the allegations against us, even if they’re untrue. It’s insignificant compared to what the families are enduring.”
“We are also victims, but not to the same extent. The worst ordeal imaginable is losing a child,” he lamented.
The Morettis deny any criminal and civil wrongdoing despite facing negligence charges associated with the deaths of 40 individuals and serious injuries to over 100 others.
If the courts find them guilty, they could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
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