The mother of two young women who were badly injured in the New Year's Day fire in the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana has had a private encounter with the couple who own the bar. Leila Micheloud had said earlier she wanted to 'speak privately' to Jacques and Jessica Moretti, who were attending a hearing on the fire that left 41 people dead and 115 injured.
A lawyer for the victims' families, Sébastien Fanti, said it was 'an extremely intense moment and rare in its humanity', without going into what was said. During the hearing, Jacques Moretti was questioned by lawyers for the families, and his wife was due to face further questions on Thursday.
Micheloud told reporters outside the hearing in the Swiss town of Sion that her presence showed that the victims were 'not just names on a list but they too had faces.'
She spoke of the injuries her daughters had suffered, with Farah, 20, still hospitalized with burns covering over 35% of her body.
Another mother, Laetitia Brodard-Sitre, who lost her 16-year-old son Arthur in the fire, emphasized the importance of revealing the truth, stating, 'There must be no more lies.'
Jacques and Jessica Moretti are under criminal investigation for involuntary manslaughter, as well as bodily harm and arson through negligence. Neither is being held in custody; Mr. Moretti was released on bail last month.
Micheloud's lawyer would not disclose details of her conversation with the Morettis, but described the encounter as an important moment in the process. 'There will be a time to say who is responsible for what. But there is also a time for humanity,' Fanti told reporters.
The Morettis have faced criticism from several former employees regarding safety concerns leading up to the tragedy. Sparkling candles in champagne bottles are said to have ignited the ceiling, which had acoustic foam blamed for the rapid spread of flames. Many of the fire's victims were teenagers, with ages ranging from 14 to 39. A locked service door has been identified as a factor in the failure to evacuate the bar in time.
A month after the disaster, the death toll rose to 41 following the demise of an 18-year-old Swiss man from injuries sustained in the fire.
The hearing is also scrutinizing fire safety protocols, as the bar had not undergone a fire inspection since 2019. Local authorities had failed to close establishments deemed dangerous until last month. Amid calls for accountability, survivors and mourners express hope for justice and healing.
A lawyer for the victims' families, Sébastien Fanti, said it was 'an extremely intense moment and rare in its humanity', without going into what was said. During the hearing, Jacques Moretti was questioned by lawyers for the families, and his wife was due to face further questions on Thursday.
Micheloud told reporters outside the hearing in the Swiss town of Sion that her presence showed that the victims were 'not just names on a list but they too had faces.'
She spoke of the injuries her daughters had suffered, with Farah, 20, still hospitalized with burns covering over 35% of her body.
Another mother, Laetitia Brodard-Sitre, who lost her 16-year-old son Arthur in the fire, emphasized the importance of revealing the truth, stating, 'There must be no more lies.'
Jacques and Jessica Moretti are under criminal investigation for involuntary manslaughter, as well as bodily harm and arson through negligence. Neither is being held in custody; Mr. Moretti was released on bail last month.
Micheloud's lawyer would not disclose details of her conversation with the Morettis, but described the encounter as an important moment in the process. 'There will be a time to say who is responsible for what. But there is also a time for humanity,' Fanti told reporters.
The Morettis have faced criticism from several former employees regarding safety concerns leading up to the tragedy. Sparkling candles in champagne bottles are said to have ignited the ceiling, which had acoustic foam blamed for the rapid spread of flames. Many of the fire's victims were teenagers, with ages ranging from 14 to 39. A locked service door has been identified as a factor in the failure to evacuate the bar in time.
A month after the disaster, the death toll rose to 41 following the demise of an 18-year-old Swiss man from injuries sustained in the fire.
The hearing is also scrutinizing fire safety protocols, as the bar had not undergone a fire inspection since 2019. Local authorities had failed to close establishments deemed dangerous until last month. Amid calls for accountability, survivors and mourners express hope for justice and healing.
