Swiss bar owner ‘MADE tragic waitress, 24, wear costume helmet which stopped her seeing sparks that triggered inferno’

THE waitress believed to have accidentally ignited the New Year’s Eve inferno in the Swiss Alps was told to wear a crash helmet that blocked her from seeing the flames, a witness has claimed. Cyane Panine was one of the 40 people killed in the devastating fire at Le Constellation, in the ski resort of Crans-Montana. Footage that emerged in the hours following the tragedy showed the 24-year-old wearing the promotional helmet as she was lifted on to the shoulders of Mateo Lesguer, 23, and the in-house DJ, who also died in the fire. In her hands, she held two Champagne bottles with sparklers - which are thought to have caused the tragedy , in which another 116 people were injured. An official report compiled by Swiss authorities states that the helmet was at the request of Jessica Moretti, the manager of the venue who is being investigated for multiple alleged crimes - including “manslaughter by negligence”. A black visor covered Cyane’s face completely, meaning that she could not see the sparklers “touching the ceiling,” the report said. Read more about Swiss fire Ms Moretti, who is currently on bail and wearing an electronic tag, has since confirmed that the battery-powered helmet, which flashed from green to pink, was part of a stunt designed to sell the Champagne. “These are Dom Pérignon helmets,” she explained. “These helmets are delivered by our champagne supplier, and we wear them from time to time when we serve Champagne.” Cyane had been encouraged by her boss to “get the atmosphere going”. Most read in The US Sun Sophie Haenni, lawyer for the victim’s bereaved family, also claimed that “she wasn’t supposed to be serving at the tables.” Ms Haenni said: “Jessica Moretti asked her to go down to the basement to help her colleagues, given the large number of champagne bottles ordered. “Cyane simply followed the instructions given, did her job, and did so in front of the manager. “She was never informed of the ceiling’s danger and received no safety training.” Jessica Moretti is facing trial alongside her 49-year-old husband, Jacques Moretti, who is in pre-trial detention for at least the next three months. Mr Moretti is an ex-pimp, who has spent time in prison for previous offences. Both the Morettis have stressed Cyane was like a “stepdaughter” and “sister” to them - but this claim appears to be false. Ms Haenni said Cyane had in fact contacted “the workers’ protection service” over her employment conditions with the Morettis. She was entitled to all of these documents under Swiss law, but the Morettis appeared reluctant to give her basic documents including an employment contract, or to pay her a decent wage. “In 2025, Cyane confided in her family about the significant difficulties she was experiencing with her employers,” the lawyer added. “She indicated that she had to work tirelessly. She was working endless days ‘Shortly before her death, Cyane told her family about her physical and emotional exhaustion. “She expressed her incomprehension at...

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