Why the deadly Apple Store crash trial has been delayed yet again

Yahoo

2 days ago

In a case one judge said "has grown whiskers," the trial of Bradley Rein, the man accused of killing one person and injuring 22 others when his SUV crashed into the Hingham Apple Store, has been yet again delayed.
The trial is now set for May 23, 2026.
Rein, 54, of Hingham, faces charges – including second-degree murder – in the death of Kevin Bradley, 65, of New Jersey, as well as 18 counts of aggravated assault and battery and motor vehicle homicide by reckless operation. Authorities say Rein's 2019 Toyota 4Runner accelerated to 60 mph in five seconds before plowing through the glass storefront of the Derby Street Shops Apple Store on Nov. 21, 2022, only stopping when it hit a back wall.
The trial was initially scheduled for December 2025, then moved to March, and now again to May.
The delays stem from ongoing legal battles over evidence requested by the defense, which argues the crash may have resulted from a vehicle malfunction, not driver error.
Defense attorney Joan Fund says an expert has found discrepancies between the SUV's electronic data recorder and Rein's statements, suggesting the car may not have responded properly to braking.
Fund is seeking multiple years of Toyota documentation on similar unintended acceleration issues and has already obtained related records from Herb Chambers Toyota of Quincy.
'Without this information, which I submit to the court is exculpatory, the defense cannot present its case,' she said.
Exculpatory refers to evidence that can clear someone from guilt.
Prosecutors object to the request, calling it speculative and overly broad. Plymouth County Assistant District Attorney David Cutshall said Rein never claimed the vehicle malfunctioned.
'In every version, he accepted responsibility,' Cutshall said, referencing Rein's earlier explanations that he either pressed the gas instead of the brake or that his foot got caught between the pedals.
Plymouth County Superior Court Judge Mark Gildea previously denied defense motions to suppress Rein's police statements and phone data, ruling that Rein was not misled and had voluntarily waived his rights.
The judge presiding over the May 27 hearing, Gregg Pasquale, acknowledged the complexity of the case and allowed time for Toyota to respond to the request, which could include objecting to it or seeking to quash it entirely. A compliance hearing is scheduled for June 16 to allow both sides to review any materials produced, give Toyota the chance to respond and address next steps.
Since his release on $100,000 bail, Rein has violated probation multiple times.
He served 60 days in jail in 2023 for letting his GPS ankle monitor battery die, was later found intoxicated at home and missed required check-ins and testing in 2024. The court has since added a continuous alcohol-monitoring device and warned further violations could result in bail revocation.
This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Second-degree murder trial delayed to May 2026 in Hingham Apple Store crash.