Marco Muzzo to be sentenced Mar. 29; Crown seeks 10-12 year sentence
Posted February 24, 2016 5:31 am.
Last Updated February 24, 2016 6:58 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Marco Muzzo will be sentenced March 29 by a judge after pleaded guilty in a crash that left three children and their grandfather dead.
The Crown has called for an “unprecedented sentence” against Muzzo, somewhere between 10 – 12 years while his lawyer, Brian Greenspan, argued for a sentence of eight years less time served.
Nine-year-old Daniel Neville-Lake, his five-year-old brother Harrison, their two-year-old sister Milly, and the children’s 65-year-old grandfather, Gary Neville, all from Brampton, died after the van they were in was hit by an SUV in Vaughan on Sept. 27, 2015.
The children’s grandmother and great-grandmother were also seriously injured in the crash.
Earlier this month, Marco Muzzo, 29, pleaded guilty to four counts of impaired driving causing death and two of impaired driving causing bodily harm.
Crown attorney Paul Tait said Wednesday drivers are not getting the message about drunk driving. He also pointed to statistics showing the rise in impaired driving across York Region, and that a sentence must serve as a deterrent.
“It is time to send a message. It’s the Crown’s position that a 10-12 year sentence sends such a message,” Tait said to the judge.
The Crown is also asking that Muzzo be prohibited from driving for 8-10 years after he is released from prison.
The Crown compared Muzzo’s actions to walking down the street with a loaded gun.
“Every drunk driver makes a choice. In this case, that choice resulted in catastrophic consequences for the victims family,” Tait said.
The Crown attorney also reminded the court that while Muzzo does not have a criminal record, he had 10 speeding convictions since 2003.
Muzzo’s lawyer said his client is “grief-stricken”.
A psychiatric report filed with the court said Muzzo is showing signs of post-traumatic stress disorder and mild depression.
Dr. Graham Glancy, who conducted the evaluation, said Muzzo shows “considerable remorse” and appears “distressed and tearful” at times, particularly when discussing the crash.
The psychiatrist said Muzzo told him he was stunned by the breathalyzer results, which court has heard were between two and three times the legal limit.
Muzzo has not spoken publicly about the crash, but addressed the court on Wednesday. He said he will spend the rest of his life trying to atone for the devastating pain he has caused the family.
In a brief statement to court, Muzzo apologized and said he will forever be haunted by the reality of what he’s done. He said he is tortured by grief and the pain he has caused the Neville-Lake family.
“I know there is no step I can take to bring back your children,” Muzzo said.
“I could never imagine the degree of suffering and pain I have caused.”
Jennifer and Edward Neville-Lake, who lost their three children and Jennifer’s father in the crash, left the room as Muzzo took the stand and did not return until he was back in the prisoner’s box.
On Tuesday, the first day of the sentencing, court heard heart-wrenching victim impact statements. Jennifer, Edward, Gary’s widow and son, along with other Neville-Lake relatives and community members, all spoke.
In her emotional statement, Jennifer looked directly at Muzzo as she said his actions have shattered her world.
“I don’t have anyone left to call me mom … You killed all my babies,” she said in a long speech before a packed courtroom.
(Click here to watch the video on mobile.)
“I miss my kids, I miss my dad, I want my old life back.”
“I would not wish this horror I am living on anyone but you,” she said. “You deserve to know exactly what it feels like to have every single child you created meet someone like you.”
With files from Pam Seatle and Momin Qureshi
Following is the statement read aloud in court by Marco Muzzo:
(Click here to read the statement on mobile)
