Parents of 3 killed in Vaughan crash face 'first Christmas ever without our kids'

The parents of three children who were killed in a Vaughan, Ont. car crash alongside their grandfather are distraught over the thought of spending Christmas without their loved ones.

"This is our first Christmas ever without our kids," Jennifer Neville-Lake said.

"I don't even really want to think about it."

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Marco Muzzo, the accused in the Sept. 27 alleged drunk driving crash, appeared via video link at a courthouse in Newmarket, Ont., on Thursday, where his case was put over to Jan. 6.

Muzzo is expected to attend his next hearing in person. His lawyer would not comment on the case's progress.

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 crash.

The 29-year-old Muzzo has been charged with a dozen counts of impaired driving and six more charges of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle related to the incident.

Milly would've turned 3 on Dec. 23

Neville-Lake said it was somewhat of a relief to not have to attend a court hearing over the Christmas period, which is when her daughter Milly would have turned three, on Dec. 23.

"We had booked a princess for Milly's birthday back in the summer," she said, adding that the little girl loved Frozen.

She said she hopes to still have the birthday in memoriam. 

Neville-Lake also thanked the strangers who set up a Christmas tree at the site of the crash. 

Supporters of the family have added even more decorations to the tree since it was put up over the weekend.

The children's mother said the slow pace of the case was hard on the family.

"It's not very easy to come and to just sit and be told just wait, just wait," she said outside the courthouse. "It's been a pretty rough time. I'm not feeling very well, but it's my duty to be here, so here we are."

The children's parents have attended every one of Muzzo's court hearings to date.

When asked how she'd feel if Muzzo put in a guilty plea at his next court appearance, Neville-Lake said the development would at least signal movement in the case.

"If he puts in a plea then he puts in a plea," she said. "We would be at least able to move, not forward, but we wouldn't be stagnant."