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🇨🇭 Switzerland /Crime & Justice

Court acquits five defendants over 2017 Bondo rockslide that killed eight

From Le Temps · () French

Translated from French and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Official statement Outcome reported
  • The Maloja Regional Court acquitted five defendants, including former Bregaglia mayor Anna Giacometti, over a 2017 rockslide that killed eight hikers near Bondo.
  • The court said no evidence showed that clear signs had pointed to a major catastrophe in the weeks before the rockslide.
  • Prosecutors had charged two cantonal employees, a forest ranger, Giacometti and an external geologist with negligent homicide.

All five defendants in the Bondo rockslide case have been acquitted, bringing a legal conclusion to proceedings over the disaster that killed eight hikers in Switzerland in August 2017.

The Maloja Regional Court delivered its judgment in Pontresina on Friday. It rejected the allegation of negligent homicide, saying there was no evidence that clear warning signs had pointed to a major natural catastrophe in the weeks before the rockslide.

The court also found that the defendants had not acted negligently by failing to close hiking trails in the danger zone. Among those cleared was Anna Giacometti, a member of the Swiss National Council and Bregaglia's mayor at the time of the disaster.

Following a criminal investigation, prosecutors had charged two cantonal employees, Bregaglia's forest ranger, Giacometti and an external geologist. They had sought suspended financial penalties.

About this summary

Originally published by Le Temps in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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