NEWMARKET, Ont. — An accused drunk driver involved in a horrific crash that killed three young children and their grandfather north of Toronto is set to appear before a Superior Court justice this afternoon.
Marco Muzzo's lawyer waived the man's right to a preliminary hearing earlier Wednesday, saying there was sufficient evidence in the case to go directly to trial by judge only.
Crown attorney Paul Tait says that developments in the case are progressing "fairly quickly" and he expects Muzzo's lawyer to let his intentions be known at the afternoon court appearance.
The 29-year-old Muzzo was charged with a dozen counts of impaired driving and six more charges of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle related to a Sept. 27 crash which drew public outrage.
Nine-year-old Daniel Neville-Lake, his five-year-old brother Harrison, their two-year-old sister Milly, and their 65-year-old grandfather Gary Neville died in the collision in Vaughan, Ont.
The children's grandmother and great-grandmother were also seriously injured in the crash.
The Neville-Lake children's parents were in court on Wednesday, wearing the ashes of their children in lockets around their necks.
Members of Muzzo's family, including his mother and his fiancee, were also in court.
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 Muzzo family owns the drywall company Marel Contractors and is worth nearly $1.8 billion, according to Canadian Business magazine.
Before the crash, Muzzo had seven non-criminal offences, including a conviction for driving with a handheld device, according to the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General.
Muzzo's previous offences occurred throughout the Toronto area, from Richmond Hill to Newmarket, Orillia and Mississauga, the ministry said.
