Newton Sweet Tomatoes Fatal Crash Trial Postponed

NEWTON, MA — The jury trial of a Newton driver accused of plowing into a Newton pizza shop and killing two people in 2016, was moved to October, according to officials at the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office. The trial has been delayed a number of times and was most recently slated to start in September.

Originally the driver, Brad Casler, indicated he intended to plead guilty in what his lawyer called an attempt to not drag out the tragedy, but he reversed course and in December 2017 said he would not plead guilty when it appeared he could not avoid jail time.

The crash killed Sweet Tomatoes customers Gregory Morin of Newton and Eleanor Miele of Watertown and injured several others.

Casler's attorney has called the crash a tragedy related to Casler’s diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. The prosecution says it was just excessive speed his Volkswagon crashed into the building.

Casler was indicted in September 2016 on two counts of motor vehicle homicide and one count of operating a motor vehicle to endanger.

Previously on Patch:

Newton Sweet Tomatoes Crash: Casler Trial Set For May

Newton Sweet Tomatoes Case Pivot Brad Casler To Demand

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

Newton Sweet Tomatoes Case Pivot Brad Casler To Demand Jury

Newton Sweet Tomatoes Case: Casler Files Motion To Dismiss

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Photo by Jenna Fisher/Patch Staff