Charges Brought After 'Full And Fair' Sweet Tomatoes Investigation, DA Says
NEWTON (CBS) – District Attorney Marian Ryan said it took her office more than six months to bring charges against the driver involved in a fatal crash into Sweet Tomatoes in Newton because of the "complicated" nature of the investigation.
Ryan announced Wednesday that 55-year-old Bradford Casler has been charged with two counts of motor vehicle homicide and one count of operating a motor vehicle to endanger in connection with the crash into the Newton pizzeria on March 1.
Eleanor Miele, 57, of Watertown, and Gregory Morin, 32, of Newton, were killed during the crash.
On Thursday, Ryan addressed the investigation at an unrelated event in Wakefield.
"These are complicated situations," said Ryan. "We do a full and fair investigations. In these situations, it takes a long time. We are also often dependent on information from other agencies, awaiting that and presenting that information to the grand jury."
Ryan did not add any additional information about the charges against Casler, saying only that more would come out in court.
The Newton man will likely be arraigned sometime in the next several weeks, though an exact date is not yet known.
"The importance now is focused on the integrity of the prosecution," Ryan said. "So the case will play itself out as we go through dates in court and we'll be making information available to the court obviously as we proceed with that process."
Tony Wilson, who suffered back and rib injuries in the crash, is still recovering and attending physical therapy.
"I'm in a much better spot than yesterday and the day before. You just have to keep healing," Wilson said.
"It's good to at least see that there's a resolution moving forward. Justice takes a long time."
