N.B. man charged in death of well-known Halifax bottle collector waives preliminary inquiry

The man charged with drunk driving and criminal negligence causing the death of a well-known Halifax bottle collector has waived his right to a preliminary inquiry.

Saint Mary’s University MBA student Dennis Patterson of New Brunswick was charged after 62-year-old Wray Elias Hart was killed in January 2018 when he was struck and became pinned by a car.

The 23-year-old has been charged with criminal negligence causing death, impaired driving causing death, dangerous driving causing death, and driving with a blood alcohol level of over 80 milligrams.

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Defence lawyer Stan MacDonald appeared in Halifax provincial court on Patterson’s behalf on Thursday, where it was revealed that Patterson has waived his right to a preliminary hearing.

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Hart was a fixture in downtown Halifax, where he could often be seen sitting outside the old library on Spring Garden Road or pushing a shopping cart piled high with recyclables.

There was an outpouring of support in the days following Hart’s death, with almost $9,000 raised through a GoFundMe campaign for his funeral arrangements.

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Patterson is currently free on bail with conditions, which include a curfew and ban from operating a motor vehicle or possessing and consuming alcohol or drugs.