Rome, Jan 13 (LaPresse) – In the interrogation, which LaPresse has reviewed, before the investigating magistrate in Switzerland, Jessica Maric Moretti, co-owner of the Crans-Montana venue Le Constellation with her husband, where a fire on New Year’s Eve caused the death of 40 people and injured another 116, reconstructed the tragedy as follows:
“Around 1:15 a.m., when the DJ began his set, the atmosphere changed and people started dancing. We served the tables of Lucas and Charles: Lucas’ table had 3 bottles of champagne and 2 of vodka, Charles’ table 7 bottles of champagne and 1 of vodka. We serve more champagne than hard liquor to avoid excess. Suddenly I felt a movement in the crowd. I saw an orange flame near the bar and tables 60–61. I shouted ‘Everyone out!’ and called the firefighters at 1:28 a.m. The bar exit is about 3 meters wide at the base of the stairs, then narrows slightly. I stayed outside, informed my husband Jacques (who was at the Senso), and tried to locate the staff. I also helped neighbors like Olivier get to safety. I then retrieved my children at home with the babysitter until the police arrived.”
When asked who was wearing the helmets, the suspect replied: “They are ‘Dom Perignon’ helmets. They are provided to us by our champagne supplier, and we use them from time to time when serving champagne.”