A former bouncer at a downtown Halifax bar accused of manslaughter and criminal negligence causing death following an incident on Christmas Eve 2022 has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Alexander Pishori Levy, 39, made the pleas Monday in Nova Scotia Supreme Court. He is accused of causing the death of Ryan Sawyer, 31, who died in hospital after police found him unconscious outside the Halifax Alehouse.

Levy's trial is scheduled to begin on Sept. 29. He had originally elected to be tried by a j…