Sweet Tomatoes Case: Hearing Set

NEWTON, MA — The man charged after his car slammed into Sweet Tomatoes restaurant last year, resulting in the deaths of two has been rescheduled for a hearing at the end of October.

Brad Casler appeared in court Monday, and was expected to change his plea to guilty. But attorneys and Judge Laurence Pierce held a side conference and rescheduled the man to return on Oct. 27 for a hearing.

Newton resident Brad Casler, stands accused of killing two and injuring seven others with his car in 2016.

(For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to the Newton Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

Earlier this month the judge heard statements from those friends and family members affected when Casler drove his car into Sweet Tomatoes pizzeria killing two and injuring seven others. Friends of Casler asked the judge not to send him to prison at that time. Casler originally pleaded guilty, but was expected to change his plea today.

"Mr. Casler doesn't want to put people through a trial, that is the reason," his attorney told Patch on Sept. 21.

Prosecutors are pushing for a five-year prison sentence. But Casler's lawyer argues his client doesn't deserve that prison time and casts doubts that Casler would "survive the rigors of incarceration."

READ MORE:

Newton Sweet Tomato Crash Case: Judge Hears Medical

Newton Sweet Tomatoes Crash Case: Tears As Victims