Parents of 3 killed in Vaughan crash face 'first Christmas ever without our kids'

The parents ofthree children who were killed in a Vaughan, Ont. car crash alongside their grandfather are distraught over the thought of spending Christmas without their loved ones.

"This is our first Christmas ever without our kids,"Jennifer Neville-Lake said.

"I don't even really want to think about it."

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MarcoMuzzo, the accused in the Sept. 27 alleged drunk driving crash,appeared via video link at a courthouse in Newmarket,Ont., on Thursday, where his case was put over to Jan. 6.

Muzzo is expected to attend his next hearing in person. Hislawyer would not comment on the case's progress.

Nine-year-old Daniel Neville-Lake, his five-year-old brotherHarrison, their two-year-old sisterMilly, and their 65-year-old
grandfather Gary Neville died in the crash.

The 29-year-old Muzzo has been charged with a dozen counts ofimpaired driving and six more charges of dangerous operation of amotor vehicle related to the incident.

Milly would've turned 3 on Dec. 23

Neville-Lake said it was somewhat of a relief to not have toattend a court hearing over the Christmas period, which is when herdaughterMillywould have turned three, on Dec. 23.

"We had booked a princess for Milly's birthday back in the summer," she said, adding that the little girl lovedFrozen.

She said she hopes to still have the birthday in memoriam.

Neville-Lake also thanked the strangers who set up a Christmas tree at the site of the crash.

Supporters of the family have added even more decorations to the tree since it was put up over the weekend.

The children's mothersaid the slow paceof the case was hard on the family.

"It's not very easy to come and to just sit and be told justwait, just wait," she said outside the courthouse. "It's been apretty rough time. I'm not feeling very well, but it's my duty to behere, so here we are."

The children's parents have attended every one of Muzzo's courthearings to date.

When asked how she'd feel if Muzzo put in a guilty plea at hisnext court appearance, Neville-Lake said the development would atleast signal movement in the case.

"If he puts in a plea then he puts in a plea," she said. "Wewould be at least able to move, not forward, but we wouldn't bestagnant."