Crans-Montana fire bereaved ask for murder charges against bar owners

Lawyers ask prosecutors to upgrade charges from manslaughter in light of text messages discussing fire risk Lawyers for victims of the deadly New Year’s Eve fire in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana have formally asked prosecutors to upgrade the charges against the bar’s owners after text messages emerged discussing the danger. Forty-one people were killed and 115 injured in the blaze at Le Constellation bar, which investigators believe started in the basement when sparklers attached to champagne bottles were held too close to sound-insulating foam on the ceiling. The bar’s owners, Jessica and Jacques Moretti, face charges including manslaughter by negligence and arson by negligence over the blaze. Another 12 suspects, including several current and former local officials, are under criminal investigation. Lawyers for some of the victims, most of whom were teenagers, told the Swiss public broadcaster RTS on Wednesday they had asked investigators to upgrade the charges against the Morettis from manslaughter by negligence to murder with possible intent. The public prosecutor for Valais canton confirmed to Agence France-Presse that two lawyers, Sophie Haenni and Ludovic Tirelli, ha