Marco Muzzo pleads guilty to impaired driving causing death of 3 kids, granddad

A man who pleaded guilty in a horrific drunk-driving crash that killed three young children and their grandfather has been released on bail until his sentencing later this month.

Marco Muzzo, 29, pleaded guilty this morning to four counts of impaired driving causing death and two of impaired driving causing bodily harm related to the Sept. 27 crash in Vaughan, Ont., north of Toronto

Muzzo was driving an SUV that collided with a minivan carrying six members of the Neville-Lake family on Sept. 27. Daniel, 9, Harrison, 5, Milly, 2, and 65-year-old Gary Neville died.

The children’s grandmother and great-grandmother were also seriously injured in the crash.

In entering his plea this morning, Muzzo agreed to a statement of the following facts that was read in court:

– The SUV Muzzo was driving was travelling 85 kilometres an hour when it drove through a stop sign and struck the Neville-Lakes’s minivan.

– His blood-alcohol content at the time of crash ranged from 0.19 to 0.25 per cent, which is two to three times the legal limit in Ontario.

– Police officers who interviewed Muzzo at the scene said he smelled of alcohol, his eyes were glassy, and he tried to use the car to keep his balance. He was also unable to understand instructions from the officers.

– Traffic and weather conditions were not a factor in the crash.

Granted bail

Muzzo’s lawyer Brian Greenspan argued that his client should be released on “strict terms” until sentencing takes place on Feb. 23 and possibly Feb. 24. The Crown agreed to the following bail conditions, which were later approved by the judge. They include:

– Payment of $1 million in bail.

– No contact with any member of the Neville-Lake family.

– He must not apply for travel documents.

– He’s not allowed to operate a motor vehicle.

– He must abstain from alcohol and live with his mother.

– Curfew between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. ET.

– Muzzo must be with his mother and one of his fiance’s parents at all times, unless he is at counseling or a medical appointment.

The judge described the bail conditions as “very strict” and likened them to a kind of house arrest. He also warned Muzzo that he would not hesitate to have him arrested if he violated any of his bail conditions.

Greenspan said earlier that Muzzo “has accepted full responsibility and accountability for his conduct and the devastating consequences of that conduct.”

Jennifer Neville-Lake and her husband, Edward Lake, parents of the three children who died in the crash, were at the courthouse this morning.

Muzzo’s mother Dawn was also in court.

Muzzo appeared in court in handcuffs and wore a black suit. He didn’t look at his family as he sat in the prisoner’s box.

He nodded and murmured in agreement when asked if he understood the consequences of his plea.

Muzzo family wealthy

The Muzzo family, one of Canada’s wealthiest, released a statement after their son’s arrest saying they were “greatly
saddened” by the tragedy and expressed their “deepest sympathy” to the Neville-Lake family.

The family owns the drywall company Marel Contractors and is worth almost $1.8 billion, according to Canadian Business magazine.

Muzzo had returned from a trip to Miami on a private jet on the day of the crash, landing at Toronto’s Pearson airport around 3:15 p.m., according to an agreed statement of fact read in court.

He picked up his Jeep from the airport parking lot and drove off, court heard.

Shortly afterward, he drove through a stop sign, plowing into the driver’s side of the minivan carrying the Neville-Lake family.

It was only after he arrived at the police station that Muzzo learned the four had died, court heard.

CBCnews.ca