Newton Sweet Tomatoes Case Pivot Brad Casler To Demand Jury Trial

NEWTON, MA — The man accused of slamming his Volkswagen into a Newton pizza restaurant killing two people and injuring seven others last year will not plead guilty, as his attorney indicated he would according to reports. Instead, he's asking for a trial by jury, according to multiple reports.

Earlier this year, Brad Casler, 56, was planning to plead guilty to the 2016 crash his attorney Thomas Giblin told Patch earlier, saying that Cassler had no desire to force a long drawn out trial for the sake of all the victims.

"Mr. Casler doesn't want to put people through a trial," he said.

Casler had been hoping to avoid prison time. When a judge indicated he thought Casler should spend two years in prison in exchange for a guilty plea, Casler rejected the deal. His attorney told the judge Casler wouldn't survive with his disability. Casler is diagnosed with MS, and his lawyer said it was a spasm associated with the disease that caused the crash.

Giblin told reporters after a the judge held a medical haring that it was Casler's medical condition that led to the accident. " He had a medical episode that caused him to lose control of his vehicle... we're talking about an accident here... a very unfortunate accident."

Casler is facing two counts of motor vehicle homicide, as well as a charge of operating to endanger.

Prosecutors recommended two-and-a-half years for each motor vehicle homicide charge, 15 years of probation for the driving-to-endanger charge; loss of his licence and that he perform 200 hours of community service. Casler's attorney is pushing for six months house arrest with GPS monitoring; suspending his driver’s license for life; and 200 hours of community service.

Greg Morin, 32, of Newton and Elanor Miele, 57, of Watertown were both killed when Casler drove his car into the restaurant on March 1, 2016. It was closed for more than a year. It recently reopened, but with new protective barriers designed to keep such a thing from happening again.

Previously on Patch:

Sweet Tomatoes Crash: Driver 'Doesn't Deserve' To Go To Jail

Sweet Tomatoes Case: Hearing Set

Newton Sweet Tomato Crash Case: Judge Hears Medical

Newton Sweet Tomatoes Crash Case: Tears As Victims

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Photos by Jenna Fisher/Patch