Hingham, Mass. — Judge Orders Competency Hearing for Man Charged in Fatal Apple Store Crash

Judge Orders Competency Hearing for Man Charged in Fatal Apple Store Crash

HINGHAM, Mass. — A judge has ordered a competency hearing for Bradley Rein, the Hingham man facing serious charges stemming from the deadly 2022 crash at the Apple Store at Derby Street Shops.

Rein appeared in court Monday, August 31, as he continues to be held without bail following a recent violation of his pretrial release conditions. CBS News Boston reports that a judge ordered the competency hearing as Rein’s criminal case continues.

The case dates back to November 21, 2022, when Rein’s 2019 Toyota 4Runner crashed through the front of the Apple Store. The crash killed Kevin Bradley, 65, of New Jersey, who was at the shopping center for construction work. Twenty-two other people were injured in the incident, according to prosecutors.

Rein has pleaded not guilty to charges that include second-degree murder, motor vehicle homicide, reckless operation and assault-related offenses. Prosecutors allege that the vehicle accelerated rapidly before striking the store and that there was no indication the brakes were applied.

Rein has previously told investigators that his foot became stuck on the accelerator and that he attempted to stop the vehicle using his other foot. His defense has also disputed the prosecution’s account and has argued that a vehicle malfunction was responsible for the crash.

The competency hearing is separate from determining whether Rein is guilty of the charges. A competency proceeding generally addresses whether a defendant is currently able to understand the legal proceedings and assist in his own defense.

The latest court developments come after Rein’s bail was revoked earlier this month. Prosecutors said he violated a condition of his pretrial release by failing an alcohol test. He had been subject to alcohol monitoring as part of his release conditions.

This was not the first alleged violation of Rein’s release conditions. Prosecutors previously sought to revoke his bail after problems involving his GPS monitoring device.

His trial had previously been scheduled to begin in January 2027, although the new competency proceedings could affect the timeline of the case.

Rein remains presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty in court.