Overview
- Swiss prosecutors are pursuing a criminal inquiry for negligent homicide, negligent bodily injury and negligent arson after the New Year's Eve blaze that killed 40 and injured 116.
- Co-owner Jacques Moretti has been placed in preventive detention, while his wife remains free pending the investigation.
- In testimony, Moretti said a service door was locked from the inside and not marked as an emergency exit, and he said he forced it to reach victims.
- Hearings describe regular use of sparkling bottle-candles; Moretti acknowledged they could have started the fire but argued they should not ignite the basement's acoustic foam he said he installed in 2015 from a DIY store.
- Moretti said minors were barred under 16 and required adult accompaniment for ages 16–18, while conceding an enforcement failure on the night was possible, and media speculation about organized crime links remains unsubstantiated.