The Canadian Press
Paola Loriggio
NEWMARKET, Ont.—A drunk driver who killed three children and their grandfather in a horrific crash north of Toronto was sentenced to 10 years in prison today as the children’s mother sobbed quietly in the courtroom.
Marco Muzzo, 29, glanced quickly at his family in the front row of the courtroom in Newmarket, Ont. as he was led away in handcuffs.
Muzzo, who had pleaded guilty to four counts of impaired driving causing death and two of impaired driving causing bodily harm, will serve nine years and four months after credit for time served.
He also faces a 12-year driving ban.
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, died last September after the van they were in was hit by a speeding Muzzo, who was driving an SUV.
Superior Court Justice Michelle Fuerst said no matter the length of sentence, Muzzo eventually will be released and go back to normal life, but the victims’ family won’t.
“The Neville-Lake family will forever be suffering from the life sentence imposed by Muzzo’s drunk driving,” Fuerst said.
Muzzo told the court last month that he forever would be haunted by the grief and pain he has caused the Neville-Lake family.
Prosecutors had asked for a sentence of 10-12 years behind bars and a ban on driving for eight-10, but the defence had argued an eight-year sentence would be enough.
In her impact statement last month, Jennifer Neville-Lake, whose family was decimated in the crash, said Muzzo’s actions have shattered her world.
“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.’’
Muzzo apologized to the family last month, saying he was “tortured by the grief and the pain” that he had caused them.
“I will forever be haunted by the reality of what I have done. I am truly sorry,” he said.
Muzzo’s trial heard he had returned from his bachelor party in Florida on a private plane and picked up his car at Pearson International Airport prior to the crash.
