Boston man pleads not guilty to murder in art collector's hit-and-run death

"Authorities allege Haney intentionally struck 79-year-old Axelrod with his car near the intersection of Commonwealth Avenue and Hereford Street around 8 a.m. Saturday. He allegedly drove onto the Commonwealth Avenue Mall and fled the scene after mowing the philanthropist down. Axelrod was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, Boston police said. His dog was also killed in the collision."

"According to The Boston Globe, Haney allegedly stopped at a Beacon Street Dunkin' to discard Axelrod's dog leash, which had become stuck on the front of his vehicle. Prosecutors said he later abandoned the vehicle and met up with his brother, and the pair then went to the Brookline police station, the Globe reported."

"Yet while prosecutors reportedly accused Haney of deliberately targeting Axelrod, defense attorney Keith Halpern said his client was "delusional" at the time and "had no idea who Mr. Axelrod was." Haney has struggled with his mental health for most of his life and suffers from schizophrenia, Halpern explained in a brief phone interview. While Haney had been doing well on antipsychotics, he had to switch medications due to complications and struggled to find a new drug that worked for him, according to Halpern."

William R. Haney Jr., 42, pleaded not guilty to murder and animal cruelty in the death of 79-year-old art collector John Axelrod. Haney was held without bail and ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation to determine competency to stand trial. Authorities allege Haney intentionally struck Axelrod with his car near Commonwealth Avenue and Hereford Street around 8 a.m., drove onto the Commonwealth Avenue Mall, and fled. Axelrod and his dog were killed; Axelrod was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital. Prosecutors say Haney discarded the dog leash at a Dunkin', abandoned the vehicle, and later went to a police station with his brother. The defense says Haney suffers from schizophrenia, had medication changes, and was delusional at the time.

Read at Boston.com