Witness says trucker admitted to beer theft

FREDERICTON, New Brunswick – The former girlfriend of a truck driver charged with stealing a load of Moosehead beer says he sent her a birthday card signed “the beer bandit.”

Cari Watson testified Thursday in the trial of Wade Haines, who is charged with stealing more than 50,000 cans of Moosehead beer destined for Mexico. Watson, a witness for the prosecution, told the judge and jury she received birthday cards from Haines while he was in jail in New Brunswick after being charged with the theft.

Haines, 31, of the Fredericton area, told Watson to look on the back of one of the cards for something funny. Watson said it read: “Copyright. Made in Canadian jail by the beer bandit.”

Watson broke down in tears while giving her testimony. She said she and Haines dated off and on for about eight years.

Haines is on trial for theft of a truckload of beer that was being shipped from Fredericton to Toronto last August. It was supposed to be sent from Toronto to Mexico, but the shipment never got out of New Brunswick.

The truck Haines had been driving was found abandoned in Grand Falls, just across the border from the northeastern corner of Maine, with the keys still in the cab. The beer was gone and so was Haines, who was arrested in Ontario.

Police told the court most of the beer was not recovered, although several stashes of the stolen suds turned up at locations in the province. The beer cans were distinctive because of Spanish labeling.

There have been no other arrests in the heist, but Crown prosecutors have admitted they do not believe Haines acted alone in the theft.

The trial continues Monday.