HALIFAX - The trial of a former Nova Scotia cabinet minister accused of fleeing the scene of an accident began Thursday with the driver of the other vehicle testifying he thought Ernie Fage was drunk.

George Myrer told the court he was stopped at a Halifax intersection last November with work colleague Steve Bezanson sitting in the passenger seat when his car was hit hard from behind.

Myrer said he got out of his car to talk to the other driver, who he didn't recognize. He said he asked him for his insurance but didn't get an audible answer.

"That's when I got a really strong smell of alcohol,'' Myrer told the court. "I yelled back at Steve, `This guy's hammered.' ''

Bezanson, who said he was shaken up by the impact, testified that he also had a short conversation with Fage, who never got out of his vehicle.

He said he asked him if he was OK and Fage replied: "I'll help you but I won't help that other guy.''

Fage proclaimed his innocence as he entered court, saying he was prepared to fight the charge.

The former human resources minister said the last year has been stressful on him and his family.

"I'm very pleased that the day has finally arrived,'' he said outside the courthouse. "It's been almost a year so, yeah, I'm looking forward to the proceedings getting underway.''

David Gamble, a witness who shot photos and video of the accident scene, said he came upon the intersection shortly after the collision.

He told the court he began to take pictures just as Fage began reversing, then pulled away.

Gamble said he followed Fage to a nearby apartment, where he confronted him and asked him why he drove away.

"I continuously asked him, why are you doing this? Why did you leave the scene?'' said Gamble.

Gamble said there was little reaction from Fage, who simply raised his arms and appeared to shrug before getting into an elevator.

The collision became public when video footage of the confrontation was broadcast on a local newscast several weeks later.

Gamble's exchanges with defence lawyer David Bright were testy at times, particularly when the lawyer raised questions about Gamble's time lines and his previous convictions for assault and drunk driving.

Crown prosecutor Darrell Martin told reporters outside court that in his experience, it isn't unusual for inconsistencies to surface in time lines from a variety of witnesses.

"If there are no discrepancies then I worry that people are making things up and have been coached in some manner,'' Martin said, adding that he wasn't commenting on this case.

In morning testimony, several witnesses, including prominent politicians and a popular media figure, testified they saw Fage drinking in a pub shortly before the crash.

NDP Leader Darrell Dexter, NDP house leader Frank Corbett and Bob Chisholm, Premier Rodney MacDonald's chief of staff, all said they were in the pub to celebrate the closing of the legislature.

Dexter testified he saw Fage drinking from a glass of wine and didn't think he was "particularly coherent.''

But when pressed by defence lawyer Bright, none of the witnesses could say if Fage was inebriated.

CTV anchor Steve Murphy told the court he was in the pub with friends and spoke to Fage for two or three minutes.

Murphy said the Tory cabinet minister was "obviously having a good time in a social environment."

"His speech may have been a bit slurred but I don't remember making particular note of it," he said.

Although much of the questioning centred around Fage's drinking, he is not charged with impaired driving.

He is accused of leaving the minor fender-bender without exchanging information with the other driver.

Under the province's Motor Vehicle Act, anyone involved in a minor accident does not have to wait for police to arrive, but they must exchange information with the other drivers and report accidents to police within 24 hours.

Fage resigned from cabinet on Jan. 4, less than two hours after the cellphone photos and video were broadcast on television.

Fage has said he reported the accident to police and that all proper procedures were followed.

A two-day hearing is scheduled in provincial court before a judge alone.

The Crown had the option of pursuing the matter as an indictable offence -- a serious criminal charge -- but chose instead a less-serious summary offence. The maximum penalty for such an offence is six months in jail, a $2,000 fine, or both.

Fage, who represents the riding of Cumberland North, now sits in the legislature as an Independent. He was asked to leave the Tory caucus until his legal problems are sorted out.