TORONTO – An Ontario man accused of causing the deaths of three children and their grandfather in an alleged drunk driving accident has been remanded in custody until his bail hearing on Oct. 19.
Marco Muzzo, of King Township, Ont., is facing a dozen impaired-driving offences and six charges related to the dangerous operation of a motor vehicle following a crash that has shocked a Vaughan community north of Toronto.
Outside the courthouse in Newmarket Ont. on Friday, Muzzo’s high-powered defence lawyer, Brian Greenspan, said his client wants to express his condolences to the family of the victims following the collision.
Speaking to reporters, Greenspan also lashed out at the media for information leaked on the case.
“We have not received any disclosure and despite the fact that certain media outlets have reported that they’ve received reliable police information. That’s quite outrageous,” he said.
“I want to make it clear that the flow of information will come inside that courtroom.”
Greenspan also said he is unsure how his client will plead.
“We require that period of time to review the material that we will receive and make an intelligent assessment on where we will go from here,” he said.
Daniel Neville-Lake, 9, his brother Harrison, 5, their sister Milly, 2, and the kids’ 65-year-old grandfather died after the mini-van they were in was struck by another vehicle at the intersection of Kipling Avenue and Kirby Road at approximately 4:10 p.m ET northeast of Kleinburg on Sunday.
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Two other occupants in the mini-van, the children’s grandmother and great-grandmother, both survived the crash but suffered serious injuries.
Hundreds turned out Thursday night for a vigil in Vaughan to remember the victims of the tragedy by hoisting candles outside St. Padre Pio church.
Some placed flowers on the church steps or left messages and donations for the family in the care of organizers.
Muzzo’s mother Dawn Muzzo released a statement earlier this week saying the family is “deeply saddened” by the deaths.
The Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General says Muzzo has seven non-criminal offences, including a conviction for driving with a handheld device.
READ MORE: Jeep driven by Marco Muzzo in fatal Vaughan crash caught fire in police custody
It says Muzzo’s previous offences occurred throughout the Toronto area, from Richmond Hill to Newmarket to Orillia and Mississauga.
A source tells Global News the accused had just returned from a weekend of bachelor party festivities in Las Vegas prior to the car crash.
The source said Muzzo and his friends consumed alcohol on a private jet during their flight home, and then proceeded to a bar to continue drinking.
Meanwhile, an online fundraiser created for the Neville-Lake family has reached over $225,000 in just five days.
A public visitation has been set on Sunday, Oct. 4 at the Brampton Funeral Home & Cemetery from 9-11 a.m. and from 1-3 p.m.
The family has asked the funeral service to be a private ceremony.
With a file from Caryn Lieberman and The Canadian Press
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