William Haney, 42, went on trial Monday in Boston Municipal Court on charges of murder and animal cruelty after he ran over 79-year-old John Axelrod while walking his dog at the Commonwealth Avenue Mall in Boston’s Back Bay.
Haney pleaded not guilty, but prosecutors told the court Haney targeted Axelrod and his dog.
Prosecutor Ursla Knight told the court: “This was not a motor vehicle accident; this was a deliberate, premeditated murder in which the defendant used his Toyota SUV as the murder weapon.”
The incident happened at around 8am on Saturday.
Prosecutors said Haney, who lived alone on nearby Marlboro Street, used the derogatory term when he asked passers-by if they had seen a man wearing a red jacket walking his dog.
After witnesses pointed Haney in the direction of Axelrod, prosecutors said Haney drove his SUV over the curb at the mall and directly toward Axelrod.
Axelrod then allegedly drove to Brookline, where surveillance video captured him pulling the dog’s leash from the SUV’s grille and asking a local mechanic to repair his car.
An hour after the accident, Haney’s brother took him to Brooklyn police to report the accident.
After the arraignment, Haney’s attorney said his client was delusional and that Haney and Axelrod did not know each other.
“He’s severely delusional. Today he doesn’t understand why he’s here and what’s going on,” defense attorney Keith Halpern said
The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, said in a statement that John Axelrod was a major supporter of the museum and donated numerous works of art to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
In court, a family friend said she was shocked.
“I’m in shock. I don’t know what to do, I don’t think he’s mentally okay. I feel bad. I’m hurt because John is an amazing man. He didn’t deserve this, no one deserves this,” said Mildred Gonzalez, Axelrod’s friend.
Haney was ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation.
He is being held without bail and will return to court for a hearing on January 23RD.
This is a development story. Please check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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