Jennifer Neville-Lake says she can’t forgivethe driver of the vehicle that struck and killed her three children and their grandfather last fall.
Neville-Lake spoke with reporters Thursday outside a Newmarket, Ont. court shortly after Marco Muzzo, who pleaded guilty to six charges related to the crash, was released on $1-million bail.
With her husband by her side, Neville-Lake held up two photos of her eldest son, Daniel, who would have turned 10 on Wednesday.
One picture showed her holding Daniel in the hospital after his birth, and the other was a school photo taken “two days before his life was ended by an impaired driver,” Neville-Lake said.
Muzzo, 29, was facing multiple charges, including impaired driving and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, following the Sept. 27 crash in Vaughan, Ont.
On Thursday, he pleaded guilty to four counts of impaired driving causing death and two charges of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.
Nine-year-old Daniel Neville-Lake, his five-year-old brother Harrison, their two-year-old sister Milly and their grandfather, Gary Neville, 65, died after the van they were in was struck by Muzzo’s vehicle. The children’s grandmother and great-grandmother were injured in the crash.
Her voice shaking, Neville-Lake said that instead of throwing Daniel a birthday party on Wednesday, she and her husband “celebrated – if you can call it that – at his grave.”
The grieving mother said she may forgive Muzzo “at some point perhaps, if I live that long.”
She added that there’s isn’t anything Muzzo could say to take the pain away.
“Harrison, Daniel, Milagros, my dad – they can’t be brought back,” Neville-Lake said.
In court on Thursday, an agreed statement of facts shed light on the sequence of events on the day of the crash.
Court heard that prior to the deadly crash, Muzzo had returned from a trip to Miami on a private jet, landing at Pearson Airport shortly after 3 p.m.
Muzzo’s lawyer, Brian Greenspan, said it was his “bachelor party trip …. The first time he ever flown on the corporate plane.”
Muzzo got into his Jeep in the airport parking lot and drove off, court heard.
Shortly after, Muzzo drove through a stop sign and struck the minivan carrying the Neville-Lake family. Court heard that he was speeding.
Court also heard that an officer who responded to the crash scene observed that Muzzo was “unsteady on his feet” and had glossy eyes following the collision.
The officer also said that Muzzo urinated himself and was having “a difficult time” understanding direction.
Two breath samples taken from Muzzo after he was taken into custody showed he had a blood alcohol level of more than double the legal limit.
On Thursday, the Crown agreed to the $1-million bail requested by Greenspan. Shortly after, a judge agreed to release Muzzo on bail, with conditions.
Muzzo is now under “virtual house arrest,” Greenspan said.
“There is no risk of flight, there is no risk that there is going to be any breach of bail, he’s under virtual house arrest, and everyone is confident that he will abide by all terms of his release,” Greenspan told reporters outside the courthouse.
Under his bail conditions, Muzzo must live with his mother and is prohibited from driving, purchasing or consuming alcohol. He must report to York Regional Police weekly, and is under a curfew, with the exception of medical emergencies.
Muzzo, who surrendered his passport to police, is also prohibited from contacting the Neville-Lake family and must remain at least 100 metres away from their places of employment, residences and educational institutions.
Muzzo left the courthouse without speaking to reporters.
Greenspan said it has been a “sad and tragic day for everyone.”
Muzzo’s family owns a drywall company and is worth $1.8 billion, according to Canadian Business Magazine.
Responding to a question outside court on Thursday, Greenspan said any suggestion Muzzo was getting special treatment due to his family’s wealth were “outrageous.”
Muzzo’s sentencing hearing is set for Feb. 23.
