Sion – In connection with the devastating fire in Crans-Montana, Jacques Moretti has been arrested—not in connection with the fire itself, but on suspicion of domestic violence against his wife, Jessica. The arrest took place on the night of August 11–12, as was revealed only days later; Moretti has been in pretrial detention ever since.
Jessica Moretti required medical treatment following the alleged assault. The couple’s attorneys stated that the incident must be viewed in a context that cannot be ignored—namely, the enormous psychological strain the family has been under since New Year’s Eve. The presumption of innocence applies to the allegations at this time; a court ruling has yet to be issued.
What happened on New Year's Eve in Crans-Montana?
That night, a fire broke out at the Le Constellation nightclub in the Valais mountain town. After an 18-year-old Swiss man later succumbed to his serious injuries at a Zurich hospital, the death toll rose to 41, and more than 115 others were injured. Among those affected were several young Italians, some of whom were treated at Niguarda Hospital in Milan—President Sergio Mattarella had visited the hospital in January Visited a fire victim thereby underscoring Italy's sympathy. Jacques and Jessica Moretti were the owners of the restaurant and, along with 14 other individuals, are suspected of arson, aggravated assault, and negligent homicide. The case is being handled by the Court of Coercive Measures in the canton of Valais, based in Sion.
Is the united front in danger of falling apart?
According to consistent media reports, the couple had previously provided investigators with largely consistent accounts of the events. However, following Jacques Moretti’s arrest, speculation is mounting in the Italian press that this unified narrative could unravel during the hearings on the cause of the fire scheduled for November and December, possibly leading to mutual accusations between the couple. This has not yet been substantiated, and a judicial determination regarding the cause of the fire is still pending.
Based on the information available so far, the new allegations against Jacques Moretti are unrelated to the ongoing investigation into the fire disaster. Both cases—the one involving alleged domestic violence and the one concerning the cause of the fire—are currently being handled by the same Valais authorities, although no formal link has been established between them.
