Marco Muzzo to plead guilty in tragic Vaughan crash, lawyer says - Action News
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Marco Muzzo to plead guilty in tragic Vaughan crash, lawyer says

Marco Muzzo's lawyer says his client will plead guilty next month to some of the charges against him related to the Vaughan, Ont., crash that killed three children and their grandfather in September.

'I feel lost, I feel destroyed,' says Edward Lake, the father of 3 children who died

Edward Lake and Jennifer Neville-Lake are the parents of the three children who were killed in a Vaughan, Ont., highway crash along with their grandfather in September. (CBC)

Marco Muzzo's lawyer says his client will plead guilty next month to some of the charges against him related to the Vaughan, Ont., crash that killed three children and their grandfather in September.

Toronto lawyer BrianGreenspantold reportersoutside Newmarket provincial court on Wednesday thatMuzzo, 29, will enter the plea at his next court appearance on Feb. 4.

His sentencing hearing is scheduled to take place on Feb. 23 and 24.

Muzzo was charged with four counts of impaired driving causing death, and 14 other charges related to the fatal crash, including:

  • Fourcounts of driving over the legal limit.
  • Fourcounts of dangerous driving causing death.
  • Two counts of impaired driving causing bodily harm.
  • Two counts of driving above the legal limitcausing bodily harm.
  • Two counts of dangerous driving causing bodily harm.

Some of the chargesMuzzofaces are "redundant,"Greenspansaid, adding that his client will plead guilty to "those chargesthat the Crown presents to the court" at his next appearance.

Greenspan emphasized "there is no plea deal or plea bargain" and "as a matter of law,[Muzzo] could not plead guilty to all charges."

The prominent lawyersaid that "virtually from the outset of the tragedy, Marco Muzzo has accepted full responsibility and accountability for his conduct and the devastating consequences of that conduct.
Marco Muzzo will plead guilty to some of the charges against him when he appears in court next month. (Pam Davies/CBC)

"Actions more than words are the true expression of the remorse that he feels and that he wishes to convey to the family for the deaths of Daniel, Harrison and Milly Neville-Lake and their grandfather, Gary Neville, and for the injuries sustained by others," headded.

Muzzo, ofKing Township,was driving an SUV that collided with a minivan carrying six members of the Neville-Lake family on Sept. 27.

Muzzo, looking gaunt compared to his appearance at his last hearing months ago,wore a suit and tie and stood in front of his mother and his girlfriend,who both sat in the front row..

Jennifer Neville-Lake and her husband, Edward Lake, the children's parents,were in court on Wednesdaywearing lockets around their necks that contained the ashes of their children.

"I feel lost, I feel destroyed," Lakesaid outside court. "That's whatI feel."

All three of theirchildren died in the collision: Daniel, 9, Harrison, 5, andMilly, 2. Their grandfather, 65-year-old Gary Neville,was also killed, and his wife and another 91-year-old family member were hurt.

Muzzo's family owns the drywall company Marel Contractors and is worth nearly $1.8 billion, according to Canadian Business magazine.

Muzzo has never been convicted of a criminal offence, according to the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General.

Harry, Milly and Daniel Neville-Lake, left to right, died in the Vaughan, Ont., crash. Their 65-year-old grandfather was also killed. (Submitted by York Regional Police)

With files from The Canadian Press