Italy joins Swiss legal proceedings as civil party in Crans-Montana fire case.Italy has joined the Swiss criminal proceedings relating to the fatal fire at a bar in the Crans-Montana ski resort, registering as a plaintiff in a move directed by prime minister Giorgia Meloni.The fire broke out on New Year's Eve at Le Constellation, killing 41 people - including six Italians - and injuring dozens, among them Italian tourists. The filing was deposited at the offices of the Sion public prosecutor by Geneva lawyer Romain Jordan, who also represents many of the families affected by the tragedy, acting in coordination with the Italian state legal service. Reimbursement   The move comes days after Italy rejected Swiss demands for reimbursement of 100,000 Swiss francs (around €108,000), representing medical costs incurred by a hospital in Sion for the brief hospitalisation of three Italian youths injured in the blaze. According to a statement from Palazzo Chigi, the decision was motivated by the direct damage caused to state resources as a result of the substantial deployment of the national civil protection service to provide medical, psychological and logistical assistance to Italian nationals involved in the disaster. The civil party submission sets out the view that local authorities' involvement in the circumstances giving rise to the event is considered highly plausible, and on that basis makes a firm claim for redress against all parties deemed civilly liable. Investigation The Swiss investigation names 11 suspects, including municipal officials and administrators as well as Crans-Montana's mayor, Nicolas Féraud. The owners of Le Constellation, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, are also under investigation. All face potential charges of arson, grievous bodily harm and negligent homicide. On the same day that Italy lodged its civil party submission, Swiss investigators announced the opening of a new, separate line of enquiry into the organisation of the emergency response to the fire and possible failures in the management of the immediate aftermath. This broadening of the investigation had been called for since February by lawyers representing the family of Sofia Donadio, an Italian woman seriously injured in the blaze. Her parents, who arrived at the scene shortly after the fire broke out, reported finding only two ambulances present, an acute shortage of oxygen cylinders and a lack of thermal blankets - despite freezing temperatures. Italy's civil party filing arrives days ahead of a scheduled meeting in Rome between Italian president Sergio Mattarella and Swiss Confederation president Guy Parmelin on 5 May. Photo credit: Heying HUA / Shutterstock.com

Italy has joined the Swiss criminal proceedings relating to the fatal fire at a bar in the Crans-Montana ski resort, registering as a plaintiff in a move directed by prime minister Giorgia Meloni. The  at Le Constellation, killing 41 people - including six Italians - and injuring dozens, among them Italian tourists. The filing was deposited at the offices of the Sion public prosecutor by Geneva lawyer Romain Jordan, who also represents many of the families affected by the tragedy, acting in coordination with the Italian state legal service.   The move comes days after  for reimbursement of 100,000 Swiss francs (around €108,000), representing medical costs incurred by a hospital in Sion for the brief hospitalisation of three Italian youths injured in the blaze. According to a , the decision was motivated by the direct damage caused to state resources as a result of the substantial deployment of the national civil protection service to provide medical, psychological and logistical assistance to Italian nationals involved in the disaster. The civil party submission sets out the view that local authorities' involvement in the circumstances giving rise to the event is considered highly plausible, and on that basis makes a firm claim for redress against all parties deemed civilly liable. The Swiss investigation names 11 suspects, including municipal officials and administrators as well as Crans-Montana's mayor, Nicolas Féraud. The owners of Le Constellation, Jacques and Jessica Moretti, are also under investigation. All face potential charges of arson, grievous bodily harm and negligent homicide. On the same day that Italy lodged its civil party submission, Swiss investigators announced the opening of a new, separate line of enquiry into the organisation of the emergency response to the fire and possible failures in the management of the immediate aftermath. This broadening of the investigation had been called for since February by lawyers representing the family of Sofia Donadio, an Italian woman seriously injured in the blaze. Her parents, who arrived at the scene shortly after the fire broke out, reported finding only two ambulances present, an acute shortage of oxygen cylinders and a lack of thermal blankets - despite freezing temperatures. Italy's civil party filing arrives days ahead of a scheduled meeting in Rome between Italian president Sergio Mattarella and  on 5 May. Photo credit: Heying HUA / Shutterstock.com