According to le Matin Swiss two guides involved in the Jungfrau avalanche in July 2007 which killed 5 soldiers and their sergant are to be tried Monday. They risk 3 years in jail.

According to expert reports the avalanche was probably triggered by the group. The risk was “high” at the time although there was no official risk level. The trial is expected to last 5 days with the judgement given towards the end of November.

http://www.lematin.ch/actu/suisse/accident-jungfrau-guides-risquent-gros-189786

Interview in French with the parents of Cédric, one of the victims.

We are not expecting anything from this trial, it won’t bring our son back nor the confidence we had in the Swiss army. No sentence will calm our anger.

The couple, said to be normally reserved are

speaking out to make the public aware of the lack of respect the army has accorded the families of the victims

They say people above the guides are also responsible and that there were no proper procedures in place.

http://www.tdg.ch/actu/suisse/proces-jungfrau-temoignage-parents-victime-2009-11-13

The two guides have been found not guilty by the military tribunual. The president of the court said they were wrong to attempt the route in the conditions but they didn’t take excessive risk. The court said that the advice in avalanche bulletins was not categoric and that the rules and norms of guiding should take precedence. The guides had not seen any sign of danger on the ground.

Worth remembering this finding if you ever find yourself the wrong side of Swiss law.

http://www.swissinfo.ch/fre/nouvelles_agence/international/Drame_de_la_Jungfrau_les_deux_guides_de_montagne_ont_ete_acquittes.html?siteSect=143&sid=11514913&ty=ti&positionT=1

The army is appealing against the verdict that acquitted the two guides.

http://www.tsr.ch/tsr/index.html?siteSect=200002&sid=11538820&cKey=1259168171000