Lucrezia Ciotti There's a new twist in the investigation into the New Year's Eve massacre in Crans-Montana . Jessica Moretti will not be present at the interrogation with her husband, Jacques, scheduled for November 2nd. Her psychological condition, the subject of a medical evaluation that prompted the prosecutor's office to change the schedule, has stalled the meeting.
Jessica Moretti skips her November 2 hearing: the prosecutor's decision
The Valais Public Prosecutor's Office has renounced the joint hearing with Jessica Moretti , originally scheduled for Monday, November 2, as part of the investigation into the New Year's Eve fire at the Le Constellation nightclub in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. The decision is due to the woman's psychological condition , which is deemed particularly delicate based on the medical documentation presented by her lawyers, Yaël Hayat and Nicola Meier.
The lawyers had sent the prosecutor's office a report signed by a psychologist specializing in psychotherapy, which highlighted the risk that a confrontation with her husband could further aggravate the situation . Valais Attorney General Béatrice Pilloud confirmed the decision to the Keystone-ATS news agency after the news was communicated to the parties.
According to the specialist, Jessica Moretti is struggling with acute post-traumatic stress , linked to the January 1st tragedy and aggravated by subsequent legal proceedings. The statement emphasizes that " the recent attack has added to this pre-existing situation of vulnerability ." The woman allegedly suffered physical violence from her husband on the night between August 11th and 12th , an episode after which she was hospitalized.
The prospect of meeting him again during questioning would, according to the psychologist, represent " a particularly destabilizing exposure ." She therefore considers the confrontation " currently contraindicated ," highlighting a " real risk of acute mental decompensation ." The waiver of the joint hearing does not halt the investigation, nor does it rule out the possibility of Jessica Moretti being questioned again in the future.
Jacques Moretti will be questioned alone: the December summons has been confirmed.
On Monday, November 2nd, Jacques Moretti will appear before the prosecutors and the civil parties' lawyers, without his wife's presence. The questioning of both defendants, scheduled for December 2nd , remains confirmed, at least for now . Jacques Moretti is currently in pre-trial detention as part of the proceedings relating to the alleged violence against his wife.
In the judicial framework, Jessica Moretti must also answer the charge of falsifying documents , filed after her last hearing in June. Both spouses are involved in the investigation into the New Year's Eve tragedy and are called to answer, along with the other defendants, to charges of manslaughter, negligent personal injury, and negligent arson.
The proceedings concern the devastating fire that broke out on the night of January 1st inside the Le Constellation club, which caused 41 deaths and 115 injuries . The investigation aims to reconstruct the dynamics of the blaze and identify any responsibilities in the management of the business and the implementation of checks by the competent authorities. Overall, the investigation involves 17 people : in addition to the Morettis, eight current or former political representatives of Crans-Montana and the former municipality of Chermignon, along with seven current or former employees of the two municipal administrations.